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Medieval Philosophical Terms

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Ontological Argument

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The Ontological Argument, formulated by St. Anselm of Canterbury, is a philosophical argument for the existence of God which posits that the concept of God as the greatest conceivable being means God must exist in reality, since a God who exists is greater than one who does not.

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Hylomorphism

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Hylomorphism is a philosophical theory developed by Aristotle, which was later adapted by medieval philosophers. It holds that everything is a combination of matter (hyle) and form (morphe), and this conceptual framework was used extensively to understand the nature of substances.

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Dialectic

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Dialectic in medieval philosophy was the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions. It often involved a method of resolving disagreements by rational argument and was used extensively in theological and philosophical disputes.

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Summa Theologica

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The 'Summa Theologica' is a compendium of all the main theological teachings of the Catholic Church, presented in a systematic format by St. Thomas Aquinas. Its structure and content have had a profound influence on medieval philosophical and theological thought.

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A priori / A posteriori

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In medieval philosophy, 'a priori' refers to knowledge that is known independently of experience, while 'a posteriori' refers to knowledge that is known through experience. The distinction was crucial for medieval epistemology.

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Natural Law

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Natural Law in medieval philosophy refers to a system of ethics that asserts that certain rights or values are inherent in human nature and can be universally understood through human reason. This was central to the moral and political philosophies of figures like St. Thomas Aquinas.

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Scholasticism

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Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics ('scholastics') of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100 to 1700. It originated as an attempt to reconcile the philosophy of the ancient classical philosophers with medieval Christian theology.

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Universals

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In medieval philosophy, universals were the supposed real entities that particular things are instances of. The debate over their nature is a cornerstone of metaphysical inquiry in Scholastic thought, famously involving the Realist, Nominalist, and Conceptualist positions.

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Quadrivium

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The Quadrivium is the upper division of the medieval liberal arts, and comprises four subjects: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. These were considered preparatory work for the study of philosophy and theology.

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Illuminationism

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Illuminationism is a doctrine in medieval Christian philosophy, made famous by St. Augustine, which holds that humans require divine illumination to gain knowledge, as our intellectual capacities are insufficient on their own.

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Voluntarism

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Voluntarism in medieval philosophy is the doctrine that the will is paramount in moral decision-making, which contrasts with intellectualism. Figures like William of Ockham regarded God's will as the basis for the moral order, rather than reason.

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Essence and Existence

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The distinction between essence and existence was a key issue in medieval metaphysics. Essence is what a thing is, while existence is that a thing is. Medieval thinkers like Avicenna and Aquinas explored how these concepts relate, especially in the context of God.

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Monadology

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Monadology, while mainly associated with later philosopher Leibniz, can also refer to a line of thought in medieval philosophy about the unity and simplicity of God. It deals with 'monads' or indivisible, simple substances which compose the fabric of the universe.

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Transubstantiation

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Transubstantiation is the change by which the bread and wine offered in the sacrament of the Eucharist become, in reality, the body and blood of Christ, even though the appearances of bread and wine remain. This doctrine was elaborated and defended in medieval Scholastic theology.

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Modal Logic

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Modal Logic in medieval philosophy is a form of logic that extends the standards of formal logic to include modalities such as necessity, possibility, and contingency. This logical approach allowed philosophers to more fully articulate arguments about the nature of reality and possibility.

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Analogia Entis

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Analogia Entis ('analogy of being') is a concept in medieval philosophy which holds that a relationship exists between God and Creation that is analogous to the relationship between creatures. This concept was used by philosophers and theologians to bridge the gap between finite human experience and the infinite divine.

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Beatific Vision

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The Beatific Vision is the ultimate direct self-communication of God to the individual person. In medieval philosophy and theology, it is considered the end goal of human existence and the highest form of knowledge, in which a person experiences perfect happiness by seeing God 'face to face'.

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Substance

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In medieval philosophy, 'substance' is a term used to describe a type of being that exists on its own and is not predicable of something else. Issues of substance were central to discussions of the nature of God, the human soul, and the Eucharist.

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Purgatory

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In medieval thought, Purgatory is a doctrine that describes an intermediate state after physical death where some souls undergo purification in order to enter heaven. It addresses themes of sin, atonement and divine justice and was a complex topic in medieval theological and philosophical discussions.

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Doctrine of Participation

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The Doctrine of Participation is a central idea in Neoplatonic philosophy echoed in medieval thought. It states that all things that exist are derived from a single first cause or principle (God) and are participatory reflections of this source.

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