Bernard of Chartres

Bernard of Chartres ( † after 1124 ) was a scholar and strongly coined by Platonism philosopher of the early scholastic period.

Biographical data

From Bernard's life little is known. A long time it was thought that he was a brother of Thierry of Chartres and as this came from Brittany. Recently, the research is, however, moved away from this view. Anyway, he first appeared in 1108 in the list of witnesses a deed from Chartres as subdeacon on; as a cleric he remained until his death at this humble consecration degrees. From about 1110/1115 he was called magister (teacher), that is taught at the cathedral school of Chartres. At the latest in 1124 he was promoted to chancellor; This year he is the last time testifies as alive. His library he bequeathed to the cathedral.

Teaching

Its cultural and historical importance lies mainly in his teaching, which gave him a high reputation. Some of the leading personalities in the cultural life of the era, including William of Conches and Gilbert of Poitiers, were his pupils, and received from him a memorable impression. John of Salisbury, who already belonged to the third generation has, Bernhard not personally experienced, but studied with his students. But he was impressed by Bernard's superior education and teaching method and described him as the greatest Platonist of his time. It can be the sustainability of Bernard's discretionary action. So Bernard has played a key role in the formation of the character of the famous so-called " School of Chartres ". This term refers to a particular advocated by scholars of the Cathedral School of Chartres philosophical and theological direction that used the Platonic ideas and sought to bring especially in the Platonic cosmology with biblical ideas in line. Bernhard has prepared the heyday of this flow. Famous is his statement that he and his contemporaries dwarfs are that ( the ancient scholar ) sitting on the shoulders of giants, and this by exceeding them in vision, although their own performance is comparatively low (see dwarfs on the shoulders of giants). That was his opinion on the question of the relationship between antiqui and modernized, between ancient and medieval science and education. This reflects the typical attitude of the scholars of Chartres, the non-Christian writings of the ancient world eagerly studied and they knew to appreciate at ease despite the religious opposition. Partly because of this relationship to antiquity immersed in the research of often (but highly controversial ) concept of a " Renaissance of the 12th century " on.

In addition to the Platonic natural philosophy of teaching grammar was another focus of Bernhard's work. He looked a thorough grammar training based on the ancient art as a prerequisite for any study. He recommended Learners six principles: humble spirit, zeal in questions, quiet life, silent study, outer frugality and stay away from home. As an ideal teacher he considered a "who loves to teach so that it is fully understood ." This shows the weight that he put on the didactics.

Philosophy

In the philosophy of nature Bernhard refrained as was customary to rely on theological authorities and to bring salvation history perspective of Christianity into play. With regard to the veracity of philosophical statements about the cosmos, he represented a dim view by only accepted probability statements.

A major innovation in Platonism brought his concept of formae nativae ( "Origin forms "). So he called forms, which he introduced as active principle mediating between the world of ideas and matter. They are images of unchanging ideas, which act only indirectly on the formae nativae on the matter. In contrast to the ideas of the formae nativae are variable. Through her ​​work in Into the material world they allow the emergence of all concrete individual things and give these species-specific properties, starting with the not yet perceptible four elements. This is the previously formless universe "embellished ". This is done by natural law: " Everything that is, is either become or uncreated; everything but what is emerging, has a legitimate, and that is reasonable cause. " The soul that called Bernhard with reference to Aristotle as entelechy, consists of formae nativae.

Works

Bernhard wrote a commentary on the lost Isagoge, the logic manual of ancient Neoplatonist Porphyry. A few verses, sayings and letters from him are preserved; until the late 20th century was that all that was known of his work. Only in 1984 was able to show Paul Edward Dutton, that anonymous recorded comment on Plato's Timaeus of Bernhard comes. 1991 Dutton has edited this comment under the ( not handwritten sources) Title Glosae super Platonem. Designed for the classroom work shows the effort of the author to provide an accurate understanding of the text and its intense, individual engagement with the contents of the Timaeus.

Every now and then is pulled for an originally Bernardus Silvestris attributed to Virgil comment Bernard of Chartres as an author into consideration.

Output

• Paul Edward Dutton (ed.): The Glosae super Platonem of Bernard of Chartres. Toronto, 1991, ISBN 0-88844-107- X ( Latin text with detailed introduction by the editor )