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