neoscholastic

Neo-scholasticism, or neo-scholasticism, is a movement in Catholic philosophy and theology that seeks to revive and reform the medieval scholastic tradition, especially the thought of Thomas Aquinas, through Aristotelian logic, metaphysics, and a systematic method. It aims to present Catholic doctrine in a coherent philosophical framework that can engage contemporary intellectual life.

The movement originated in the late 19th century and received decisive support from Pope Leo XIII in the 1879 encyclical Aeterni Patris, which called for the restoration of Scholastic philosophy, with Aquinas as its principal exemplar. Neo-scholasticism developed through the 20th century in Catholic universities and religious orders, particularly among Dominicans and other clerical scholars, who sought a rigorous, defendable structure for theology and philosophy.

Method and themes typical of neo-scholasticism include a realist metaphysics grounded in hylomorphism (substance as form and matter), a disciplined disputational approach to questions, and a commitment to natural theology and epistemology in dialogue with revelation. Theology is treated as a science of sacred doctrine that integrates philosophical insights with Catholic dogma, aiming for systematic coherence and intellectual respectability.

Notable figures associated with the movement include Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Jacques Maritain, and Étienne Gilson, among others. Important centers and institutions include the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome and the University of Louvain. While the movement shaped Catholic education and doctrinal formation for much of the 20th century, it faced criticism for perceived rigidity and later faced reforms and reinterpretations in light of modern philosophy and the Second Vatican Council.