"Abélard would find most of his old problems sensitive to his touch today. Time has settled few or none of the essential points of dispute. Science hesitates, more visibly than the Church ever did, to decide once for all whether Unity or Diversity is ultimate law; whether order or chaos is the governing rule of the Universe, if Universe there is; whether anything except phenomena exists. Even in matters more vital to society, one dares not speak too loud. Why, and for what, and to whom, is man a responsible agent? Every jury and judge, every lawyer and doctor, every legislator and clergyman has his own views, and the law constantly varies. Every nation may have a different system. One court may hang, and another may acquit for the same crime, on the same day; and Science only repeats what the Church said to Abélard, that where we know so little, we had better hold our tongues."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Philosophers from FrancePoets from FranceTheologians from FranceLinguists from FranceLogicians from France
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Henry Adams, in Mont Saint Michel and Chartres (1904), Ch, XIV : Abélard
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Peter_Abelard
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard [also Petrus Abaelardus or Abailardus, or Pierre Abélard] (1079 – 21 April 1142) was a French scholastic philosopher and theologian. His tragic affair with his pupil Héloïse became a legendary love story.
20 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Peter Abelard →
Related Quotes
"Bonam quippe intentionem, hoc est, rectam in se dicimus, operationem vero non quod boni aliquid in se suscipiat, sed …"
"O quanta qualia sunt illa sabbata, quae semper celebrat superna curia."
"The purpose and cause of the incarnation was that He might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the lo…"
"There are many seeming contradictions and even obscurities in the innumerable writings of the church fathers. Our res…"
"Doubtless the fathers might err; even Peter, the prince of the apostles, fell into error: what wonder that the saints…"
"I have ventured to bring together various dicta of the holy fathers, as they came to mind, and to formulate certain q…"
"Q1 Must human faith be completed by reason, or not?"
"Q2 Does faith deal only with unseen things, or not?"
"Q3 Is there any knowledge of things unseen, or not?"
"Q4 May one believe only in God alone, or not?"