scholasticism
Systematic medieval philosophy
Scholasticism is the dominant philosophical and theological system of medieval European universities, characterized by rigorous logical analysis and systematic argumentation.
It sought to reconcile Christian doctrine with classical philosophy, especially Aristotle.
More broadly, scholasticism refers to any approach marked by excessive attention to formal rules, distinctions, and technicalities at the expense of substance: His arguments devolved into scholasticism. (Capitalized Scholasticism emphasizes the historical movement.)
Excessively concerned with minor rules
- hairsplittingExcessive focus on minutiae
- oversubtleExcessively fine in reasoning
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- rigidUnable to bend
doctrinaire · dogmatic · formalistic · arid · sterile · abstruse · quibbling · ivory tower
pedantic
Excessively concerned with minor rules
- hairsplittingExcessive focus on minutiae
- oversubtleExcessively fine in reasoning
- arcaneUnderstood by few
rigid · doctrinaire · dogmatic · formalistic · arid · sterile · abstruse · quibbling · ivory tower · obscurantist
- humanitiesphilosophy, history, literature, philosophy class, novels
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- Middle AgesMiddle Ages, medieval period, castles, knights, Dark Ages
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- Ideasidealism, materialism, empiricism, rationalism, liberalism
scholasticismmysticism
Pursuit of divine union
intuitionism · empiricism · anti-intellectualism · Neoplatonism · gnosticism
scholasticismhumanism
Philosophy prioritizing earthly reason
anti-rationalism · Renaissance humanism · irrationalism · free thought · Erasmus
scholasticismempiricism
Knowledge through observation
scientific method · rationalism · positivism · Francis Bacon · experimentalism
school, scholar, schooling, scholarship, scholarly, schoolmate, scholastic, schoolroom, schoolmaster