The debate over universals in the time of Peter Abelard: what it is, and is not, about
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: From the nineteenth century onwards, the so-called ‘Debate over Universals’ from the time of Peter Abelard (c. 1100–50) is regarded as one of the major problems of medieval philosophy. This paper tries to advance the current approaches (which fall into two broad categories: a more analytical line of enquiry and a more historical one) by establishing a new understanding based on assumptions and questions. Through a comprehensive analysis of both published and unpublished logical commentaries from the first half of the twelfth century, it shows that – contrary to the received narrative – a lot is not discussed, but rather assumed. It therefore investigates what the debate is not about – arguing that this is just as relevant as what the debate is about.
Author: Caterina Tarlazzi
Institution: Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej
OpenAlex ID: W3193466858