Abelard

Who:Philosopher and Theologian (Though as the eldest son he was intended for a military career.)

What: Wrote a work on the Trinity which he was later forced to burn because of its controversial nature, claiming that the Trinity can be rationalized, while the Church claimed that the Trinity was outside of reason. Many others of his works survive, including his letters to and from Heloise, a student with whom he begins a love affair and later marries. They both fled to a convent and monastery respectively, and later Abelard is confronted, castrated, and forced to burn his work on the Trinity. They continue to write to each other throughout the ordeal. Later, they are buried next to each other.

Some Ideas as a Cathedral Scholar:

-doubt leads to examination and examination leads to truth-reason is the way to know God

-theory of intentionality

When: 1079-1142

Where:France

Why: To quote Abelard, he abandonded "Mars for Minerva" by taking the profession of knowledge over that of war.

Significance: One of Abelard's most influential ideas was that of intentionality, which says that a sin is only a sin if the sinner meant to commit the sin.