Gilson’s Notion of Theologism in The Unity of Philosophical Experience and Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages

• Authors: Capehart James D.
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The author examines Gilson’s development of the term “theologism” from his 1937 The Unity of Philosophical Experience and his 1938 Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages. This term is important for understanding Gilson’s developing doctrine on Christian philosophy. The treatment of it helps to show how Gilson’s understanding of Christian philosophy does not entail the formal conflation of philosophy with Christianity—as some have accused. In fact, the knowledge of what theologism is—referring primarily to the misuse of philosophy by the theologian—helps to set the stage for seeking an understanding of the proper relationship of Christianity to philosophy, a unity which maintains formal distinction. This knowledge also provides a hermeneutical tool for the proper interpretation of Gilson’s later writings on Christian philosophy.

Keywords

EN

Gilson; Bonaventure; Anselm; theologism; Christian theology; Christian philosophy; Christianity; faith; reason

• Publisher: International Étienne Gilson Society
• Journal: Studia Gilsoniana
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 11-44

Dates

published

2019-03-20

Contributors

author

Capehart James D.

References

• Capehart, James D. “Étienne Gilson and the First Two Stages of His Christian Philosophy.” PhD diss., University of St. Thomas (Houston), 2018.
• Chesterton, G. K. “The Blue Cross.” In Father Brown: The Essential Tales. New York: The Modern Library, 2005.
• Gilson, Étienne. Christianisme et Philosophie. Paris: Vrin, 1936 [Christianity and Philosophy, translated by Ralph MacDonald. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1939.
• Gilson, Étienne. “La notion de philosophie chrétienne.” Bulletin de la Societe française de Philosophie 31, no. 2 (1931): 37–85 [“The Notion of Christian Philosophy,” translated by Gregory Sadler, 128–140. In Reason Fulfilled by Revelation: The 1930s Christian Philosophy Debates in France. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2011].
• Gilson, Étienne. Le Thomisme: Introduction à la Philosophie de Saint Thomas d’Aquin, 5ed rev. et aug. Paris: J. Vrin, 1944 [The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by L. K. Shook. New York: Random House, 1956.
• Gilson, Étienne. Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages. New York: Scribner’s, 1938.
• Gilson, Étienne. “Sens et nature de l’argument de saint Anselme.” Archives d’histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Âge 9 (1934): 5–51.
• Gilson, Étienne. “The Meaning and Nature of St. Anselm’s Argument,” 38–79. In Medieval Essays, translated by James G. Colbert. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2011.
• Gilson, Étienne. The Philosopher and Theology, translated by Cécile Gilson. New York: Random House, 1962.
• Gilson, Étienne. The Spirit of Mediaeval Philosophy: Gifford Lectures 1931-1932. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1936.
• Gilson, Étienne. The Unity of Philosophical Experience. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1937.
• Houser, R. E. “Bonaventure’s Three-fold Way to God.” Philosophy 6 (1997): 91–135.
• Sadler, Gregory B. “Saint Anselm’s Fides Quaerens Intellectum as a Model for Christian Philosophy.” The Saint Anselm Journal 4, no. 1 (Fall 2006): 32–58.

Identifiers

ISSN

2577-0314

ISSN

2300-0066

DOI

10.26385/SG.080101