SCHOLASTICISM

Less a philosophy or even a theology than an approach of education, scholasticism put a clear emphasis on dialectical thinking to expand information by presumption, as well as to remedy contradictions. Scholastic thought is furthermore recognized for stringent cognitive examination, along with the prudent drawing of distinctions. In the class, as well as in writing, it frequently takes the shape of well-defined disputation: a subject drawn from tradition is broached as being an inquiry, opponents' answers are presented, a counterproposal is argued and opponents' points rebutted. Due to its focus on stringent dialectical approach, scholasticism was gradually used for a number of other fields of research. As an approach, scholasticism was an element of an endeavor at harmonization on the part of medieval Christians thinkers: to harmonize the assorted "authorities" of their own tradition, as well as to reconcile Christian theology with classical and late antique philosophy, particularly that of Aristotle but also of neoplatonism .