SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY 



observation rather than theories, for him, as for Plato, 

 the science par excellence was that of the first prin- 

 ciple the reason of things and the syllogism the 

 proper form thereof. Few, if any, attempts at experi- 

 mental investigation are disclosed in his writings. 

 In his day such attempts were thought discreditable, 

 and indeed were so considered by most men until the 

 dawn of the practical use of the inductive philosophy 

 overthrew that of the peripatetic teachings. * 



It has been stated that the philosophies of the 

 ancients were not only philosophies but the religions 

 of their advocates. They professed not only to teach 

 the causes of existence and the nature of things, but 

 deduced therefrom the principles that should guide 

 men through life; that should influence their morality, 

 and show them the hope, or the futility of hoping, for 

 a future life. Philosophy in entering into scholas- 

 ticism divorced itself absolutely from this religious 

 element. The dogmas of Christianity in crystallizing 

 ultimately into the rigid form of orthodox Catholi- 

 cism neither required nor permitted any accessions 

 from philosophy, ancient or modern. The dogmas 

 of the church, the nature of God, and the relations to 

 each other of the several persons of the trinity, and 

 of God to man, were questions strictly reserved to 

 theology. If philosophers touched upon them other- 

 wise than as the church prescribed, they became 



* Larousse. 

 25 



