The Clash of Mysticism and Dialectics in the 12th Century: Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter Abelard

The article analyzes the fight between mystics and dialecticians, which took place during the 12(th) century. The scholastic theology was based on the dialectical method and Aristotelian logic. It strived to explicate the truth of Revelation and texts of the Church Fathers by the means of grammar and formal logic. But the partisans of mysticism protested against far-fetched rationalization of theology. They claimed that truth is more attainable trough humility and love than through dialectics and logic. In the article, the conflict between mystics and dialecticians is presented in chronological order. The heretical propositions, extracted form Abelard's theological treatise by Bernard of Clairvaux and abbot Wilhelm, together with Bernard's letter to Church hierarchs are considered.