Another fine example of the careful reconsideration of the role of the
seven liberal arts in the eleventh century is a book by
Holopainen, Toivo J., Dialectic and Theology in the Eleventh Century,
Leiden - New York - Cologne: E.J. Brill 1996.
Holopainen argues that the authors caharacterized by Endres as
"antidialecticians" (Peter Damiani, Lanfranc of Bec, Gerard of Csanad,
Otloh of Saint Emmeram, Manegold of Lautenbach) can hardly be called
"antidialecticians."
On the basis of Peter Damiani's "De divina omnipotentia," he proposes that
Damiani's attitude towards dialectic was "moderate" and "he can be
characterized as an antidialectician to a mild degree" (pp. 42-3).
Holopainen concludes that the categories of Endres ("dialecticians" versus
"antidialecticians") are "utterly misleading" (p. 156).
Yours,
Elod Nemerkenyi
Rutgers University
Department of Classics
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
