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Scholasticism - 4 dictionary results

scho⋅las⋅ti⋅cism

  [skuh-las-tuh-siz-uhm]
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–noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) the system of theological and philosophical teaching predominant in the Middle Ages, based chiefly upon the authority of the church fathers and of Aristotle and his commentators.
2. narrow adherence to traditional teachings, doctrines, or methods.
Origin:
1750–60; scholastic + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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scho·las·ti·cism   (skə-lās'tĭ-sĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. often Scholasticism The dominant western Christian theological and philosophical school of the Middle Ages, based on the authority of the Latin Fathers and of Aristotle and his commentators.
  2. Close adherence to the methods, traditions, and teachings of a sect or school.
  3. Scholarly conservatism or pedantry.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Scholasticism

Scho*las"ti*cism\, n. The method or subtilties of the schools of philosophy; scholastic formality; scholastic doctrines or philosophy.

The spirit of the old scholasticism . . . spurned laborious investigation and slow induction. --J. P. Smith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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scholasticism

The philosophy and theology, marked by careful argumentation, that flourished among Christian thinkers in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Note: Central to scholastic thought is the idea that reason and faith are compatible. Scholastic thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas tried to show that ancient philosophy, especially that of Aristotle, supported and illuminated Christian faith.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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