Chapter XII

THE RISE OF SCHOLASTICISM.--A.D. 1049 TO 1200.

State of letters in Italy at the beginning of the twelfth century.
Law schools of Bologna, founded by Irnerius. Other Italian schools.
St. Peter Damian, scholasticus at Parma. His writings and poetry.
The monastic masters still eminent. Anecdotes of some of them.
Revival of classical studies in their schools at this time.
Multiplication of books and libraries. Extraordinary activity of
copyists. The libraries of Tegernsee and St. Emmeran’s. Othlonus
and his studies. Customs of Cluny. Earliest known versions of the
Scripture in the vulgar tongue. Frequent mention at this period of
conversions to religious life of learned men. St. Bruno, founder
of the Carthusians. Odo of Tournay. Stories of their lives. Odo’s
school and disciples. The Nominalists and Realists. The state of
the school of Paris. Notice of its most celebrated masters. Bernard
of Chartres and his excellent system. Anselm of Laon. William of
Champeaux. Abelard and his career. Scholasticism. Origin of the
system of graduation. The school of St. Victor rises in opposition
to the new school of scholastics. Character of its teaching. State
of the schools as exhibited in the life of John of Salisbury. The
heretical bias of the new independent professors. Their neglect of
classical studies, and exclusive preference given by them to logic.
The Cornificians. Scholastic sophistries. Peter Lombard, the real
founder of scholastic theology. Gradual rise of the University of
Paris. 324