Abstract

Anna Jaroszewska Sic et Non – Pierre Abelard’s Problematic Reasoning. Pierre Abelard, the philosopher called by many “the bee,” aroused much controversy because of his views. He was the most famous dialectician of his time. He used his logical and rational methods of truth investigation in the field of philosophy and theology. His thesis aroused much opposition, as evidenced by the double condemnation of the thinker by synods and his actions, intended to strengthen the role and independence of philosophy, were not greeted with widespread acclaim. Abelard’s thesis Sic et Non had the purpose of correcting mistakes and ambiguities which appeared in the statements of the Church Fathers. That thesis is a perfect example of the dialectical method and serves as a textbook for students of this art – no answers given, only the arguments supporting the thesis and those against it. Does Abelard, twice condemned and conflicted with many famous thinkers, remain in his thesis a neutral person, who only quotes contradictory statements of the Church Fathers and theologians? What contradicts this thesis is the ampleness of the work and comprehensive clarifications in the first entries thereof. Despite the lack of any author comments in Sic et Non, what is clearly observable is the criticism of scholastic authority — the authority that was at Abelard’s time widely respected, without a word of opposition to the views represented. Keywords: authority, dialectics, logic, rational investigation of the truth, criticism, truth, doubts.