Neo-Scholasticism

Neo-Scholasticism, also known as Neo-Thomism, is a philosophical and theological movement that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries as a revival and reworking of the Scholastic tradition, particularly the thought of Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic philosopher and theologian. Neo-Scholasticism sought to reconcile and synthesize Thomistic principles with modern philosophical and scientific developments.

Key principles and characteristics of Neo-Scholasticism include:

1. Thomistic Revival: Neo-Scholasticism sought to revive the teachings and methods of Thomas Aquinas, whose thought had a profound influence on medieval Scholasticism. Thomas Aquinas’s synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology became a central aspect of Neo-Scholasticism.
2. Faith and Reason: Like the original Scholasticism, Neo-Scholasticism emphasizes the compatibility of faith and reason. It upholds the idea that human reason can be used to support and understand religious truths and that philosophical and theological inquiry can go hand in hand.
3. Natural Theology: Neo-Scholasticism places a strong emphasis on natural theology, which seeks to demonstrate the existence and attributes of God through reason and the study of the natural world. It aims to show that the existence of God can be known through philosophical arguments.
4. Metaphysics and Thomistic Realism: Neo-Scholasticism engages in metaphysical inquiries, exploring the nature of being, substance, causation, and the relationship between essence and existence. It upholds Thomistic realism, which asserts the objective reality of universals and the existence of an underlying metaphysical structure to the world.
5. Compatibility with Modern Science: Neo-Scholasticism seeks to reconcile Thomistic principles with modern scientific discoveries and methodologies. It embraces the insights of modern science while preserving the core tenets of Thomistic metaphysics and philosophy.
6. Catholic Doctrinal Development: Neo-Scholasticism played a significant role in the development and defense of Catholic doctrinal positions. It sought to provide a rigorous philosophical and theological foundation for various Catholic teachings.
7. Educational Influence: Neo-Scholasticism had a profound influence on Catholic education and seminary training during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a dominant intellectual framework in many Catholic institutions.

Prominent figures associated with Neo-Scholasticism include Étienne Gilson, Jacques Maritain, and Edith Stein. The movement reached its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but gradually declined in influence in the later 20th century as other philosophical and theological perspectives gained prominence. However, some aspects of Neo-Scholastic thought continue to be studied and debated within the context of Catholic philosophy and theology.