Grundlagen des philosophisch-anthropologischen Diskurses im dreizehnten Jahrhundert: Die Erkenntnisbemuhung um den Menschen im zeitgenoessischen Verstandnis

This monograph examines the theories of philosophical reflection on man in the 13th century. It describes and analyzes the views and debates of scholastic philosophers on the scientific approach to anthropological issues. After an outline of previous research, the efforts of the magistri to integrate anthropological studies into the framework of their sciences are examined in detail, and their ideas on the reliability and usefulness of various scientific methods, as well as their judgements on the value and dignity of different disciplines are investigated. Particular attention is given to the scholars’ discussions on the interrelationship between our understanding of man and our understanding of the world as a whole.