Pierre Abélard
By Levi Clancy for Student Reader on
updated
Birth in France | Pierre Abélard (Peter Abelard) was born in the north of France in Brittany to a powerful family of local nobility. | |
---|---|---|
Early in life, Abelard studied with Ruscolines (one of the greatest logicians of his time). | ||
1100 | Around 1100 when he was 21 he studied with William of Champeaux (with whom he developed a contentious relationship). | |
Abelard in Melun | 1102 | Abelard was such a masterful logician that he opened up his own school in Melun. |
Abelard in Paris | 1108 | By 1108 he went to Paris where he taught in partnership with William of Champeau. There was a great debate at the time on the great philosophical problem of universals. In this field, Peter increased his fame with what he accomplished on this debate. |
Abelard in Laon | 1113 | Abelard focused on theology in Laon, where people were devoted to writing glosses of the sort eventually made famous by Lombard. |
Abelard in Paris | 1114 | Returned to Paris to teach at Notre Dame. |
Abellard and Helloise | 1115 | Abelard became friends with the enemies of his former teacher Champeaux, and in this group was a man named Fulbert whose niece Helloise was about sixteen years old. She fell in love with Abelard and became pregnant by him. As a result, Fulbert and other relatives attacked and castrated Abelard in 1117. |
Abelard's Castration | 1117 | |
1121 | Abelard was formally condemned by a council of the church. | |
Sic et Non (Yes and no) | 1125 | Abelard released Sic et Non in 1125. |
Historia calamitatum (History of my calamities) | 1132 | Like Augustine, he wrote an autobiography with his relationship with Helloise remaining a central theme. |
1140 | Abelard was condemned again,this time by the pope himself Innocent II | |
Death | 1142 |
Studies
Dr. Brian Copenhaver. A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. Lecture, UCLA. August 27, 2012.