Historia Calamitatum (Masterplots, Definitive Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Peter Abelard
- First Published: 1132
- Type of Work: Autobiography
- Time of Work: 1079-c.1132
- Setting: Paris, Melun, Laon, and St. Gildas, France
- Principal Characters: Pierre Abelard, Fulbert, Heloise, William Of Champeaux, Anselm Of Laon, Bernard Of Clairvaux
- Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography
- Subjects: Philosophy or philosophers, France or French people, Love or romance, Middle Ages, Religious life, Twelfth century, Eleventh century
- Locales: Paris, France, Laon, France, Melun, France, St. Gildas, France
Abelard’s HISTORY OF MY CALAMITY is an account of the romantic and intellectual misfortunes of one of the significant philosophers of the Middle Ages. As a moderate realist Abelard upheld the Aristotelian idea that names of characteristics do not name independently real universals but merely call attention to certain resemblances in things. This opinion made him a philosophical opponent of his teacher, William of Champeaux. Abelard’s reliance on logic and dialectic together with his love of debate resulted in his antagonizing many churchmen, Bernard of Clairvaux in...
[The entire page is 1299 words long]
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