Abélard, Tome II

In this second volume of the collected philosophy of a medieval master, the reader is guided into the heart of the age‑old dispute over universals. The work opens with a lively prologue by a contemporary disciple, framing the controversy as the most enduring intellectual war of the Middle Ages—a clash that stretched from the eleventh to the fifteenth century. From the opening pages, the text invites listeners to explore how the thinker dissected the nature of genera and species, questioning whether abstract ideas possess real existence or remain mere mental constructs.

The commentary weaves together historical anecdotes, sharp satire, and careful analysis, revealing how scholars of the era saw the debate as both a scholarly pursuit and a battlefield of words. Listeners will hear the vivid language of medieval scholars, complete with Latin quotations and rhetorical flourishes that bring the centuries‑old argument to life, while gaining a clear sense of why the problem of universals shaped the entire scholastic tradition.