Abstract
The basic concepts found in medieval philosophy relative to the characterization of the sphere of theory and that of practice were derived from Greek philosophy, especially from Aristotle. According to these streams of thought, theory is concerned with the cognition of reality, the practical act with directing the will toward that which it considers proper, while the fundamental principle of the poetic act is to give form to the sensible or material sphere. These observations of the attempts of medieval philosophy to clarify the concepts dealt with here are not made merely for the sake of completing the historical development of these concepts but rather to gain some insight into their nature. Even some of the blurred distinctions of the medieval philosophers, especially in the sphere of the act, will prove to be of value for the proper understanding of the concepts current in our day.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
On this subject see L. Kerstiens, “Die Lehre von der theoretischen Erkenntnis in der lateinischen Tradition,” in Philosophisches Jahrbuch der Görres-Gesell-schaft, LXVI (1958), p. 394.
Regulae ad directionem ingenii, III.
Of Gregory of Nyssa.
See on this subject P. Rousselot, S. J., The Intellectualism, of Saint Thomas, translated with a Foreword by James E. O’Mahony (New York: 1935), p. 66.
On this subject see Überweg’s Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie (Basel-Stuttgart: 1961), Part II, pp. 415–16.
Cf. J. Ebner, “Die Erkenntnislehre Richards von St. Viktor,” in Beiträge für Geschichte der Philosophie des Mittelalters, XIX/4 (Münster: 1917), pp. 35ff.
The Kuzari, V, 12.
Consult Dominicus Gundissalinus, De divisionae philosophiae, edited by L. Bauer (Münster: 1903); see also H. A. Wolfson, “The Classification of Sciences in Medieval Jewish Philosophy,” in Hebrew Union College Jubilee Volume 1875–1925 (Cincinnati: 1925).
Milot Hahigayon, 14.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1977 Martinus Nijhoff. The Hague, The Netherlands
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rotenstreich, N. (1977). Echoing the Classical Distinctions. In: Theory and Practice. The Van Leer Jerusalem Foundation Series, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1098-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1098-6_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-247-2004-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-1098-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive