Ed Terwilliger
T Th 1215- 130
HIS 112

Abelard Paper

Peter Abelard was a renowned philosopher and a truly remarkable intellectual for his time. Students and teachers alike at Universities and schools in France marveled Abelard’s teachings and logistic theories. In his autobiography Historia Calamitatum or The Story of My Misfortunes, Abelard shows that throughout his life, the study of Dialectics and logistical reasoning, play a great role in comprehending the interactions and events of our surroundings.

In his youth, Peter Abelard; being the first-born son of three, was educated in the study of letters. His Father had been a soldier whom earlier in his life was graced with the study of letters, and saw to it that each one of his sons were taught in this study prior to them being educated as a soldier. “And so it came about that long afterwards his love thereof was so strong that he saw to it that each son of his should be taught in letters even earlier than in the management of arms.” (Bellows 1) Unlike his other siblings, Abelard was taught extensively in letters because of his first-born status. Interestingly enough, Peter Abelard found the study of philosophy to be so crucial to the advancement of society and the winning of battles in ones life; he even refers to his intellectual skills as “weapons”. Unlike his father, Abelard preferred winning battles in the form of debates and intellectual wars, which he states “…I exchanged all other weapons for these, and to the prizes of victory in war I preferred the battle of minds in disputation.” (Bellows 1) Abelard displayed intense buoyancy in his intellect and philosophical understanding. Abelard demonstrates his thoughts in his autobiography numerous times about his unwavering confidence in his reasoning skills. His thoughts on his peers and teachers when he attended school reiterate this