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joannaautumn's review against another edition
3.0
Abelard's story reminds me stylistically of those diaries I used to write in high school when I found myself "exceptionally smart" and everyone else, by default, less intelligent.
Nowadays I wish I had that confidence in life; review to come.
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Abelard had a huge impact on philosophy and theology, he was a rationalist, a debater, a logician, a scholastic philosopher. He had revolutionary ideas for the time, sometimes called a forerunner of modern empiricism, a harbinger of modern self-reflective autobiography, a precursor of Spinoza, Rousseau, now referred to as a twelfth-century Descartes. He further developed the concept of limbo, he introduced the moral influence theory of atonement, in short: he was an influential persona of the time. Yet the world chooses to remember him as one of the two lovers in the “incredible love story of Abelard and Heloise.”
Although their letters are of quality, this man had a lot more to offer, a lot of reasons to be known for in history rather than to be put in a box labeled “medieval philosopher lover”.
As for this work, in particular, it’s a confessional bit of writing, a first-person narration of the author writing out his life tale from his highly subjective point of view. Some parts are hyperbolized and some skipped over – the overall tone is one of lamentation, the whole world is against the brilliance of Abelard. At times even melodramatic, but a fast and dare I say, even a humorous read? Or at least that was my impression while reading.
Stylistically not of tremendous value for literature, its worth lies in the self-reflection of the subject writing the story, not everyone’s cup of tea for sure.
Nowadays I wish I had that confidence in life; review to come.
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Abelard had a huge impact on philosophy and theology, he was a rationalist, a debater, a logician, a scholastic philosopher. He had revolutionary ideas for the time, sometimes called a forerunner of modern empiricism, a harbinger of modern self-reflective autobiography, a precursor of Spinoza, Rousseau, now referred to as a twelfth-century Descartes. He further developed the concept of limbo, he introduced the moral influence theory of atonement, in short: he was an influential persona of the time. Yet the world chooses to remember him as one of the two lovers in the “incredible love story of Abelard and Heloise.”
Although their letters are of quality, this man had a lot more to offer, a lot of reasons to be known for in history rather than to be put in a box labeled “medieval philosopher lover”.
As for this work, in particular, it’s a confessional bit of writing, a first-person narration of the author writing out his life tale from his highly subjective point of view. Some parts are hyperbolized and some skipped over – the overall tone is one of lamentation, the whole world is against the brilliance of Abelard. At times even melodramatic, but a fast and dare I say, even a humorous read? Or at least that was my impression while reading.
Stylistically not of tremendous value for literature, its worth lies in the self-reflection of the subject writing the story, not everyone’s cup of tea for sure.
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