Essay: The Foundations of Mental Language in Abelard’s De Interpretatione
Abelard’s De interpretatione remains essential for understanding how medieval scholars transitioned from ancient philosophy to the sophisticated logic of the late Middle Ages. By defining the "internal discourse" as a natural, non-conventional language, Abelard provided a framework for how human reason can achieve objective truth. Download 053Le discours int pdf
This text is a pivotal moment in the development of "via moderna" or Ockhamism, which later separated Christian theology from purely Aristotelian metaphysics. Essay: The Foundations of Mental Language in Abelard’s
In his commentary on Aristotle’s De interpretatione , specifically the section often cited as LI De int. 3.01.71 , Peter Abelard explores the nature of internal discourse ( oratio mentalis ). He examines the bridge between human thought and external reality, arguing that while spoken words are conventional, the "passions of the soul"—or mental understandings—are natural and universal. In his commentary on Aristotle’s De interpretatione ,