scholastische

Scholastische is a German adjective meaning "related to scholasticism" or "scholastic." It is used to describe the medieval intellectual tradition that aimed to harmonize Christian theology with classical philosophy, especially Aristotelian logic and metaphysics. The term comes from Latin scholasticus and entered German through descriptions of the school-based, disputational methods of medieval universities and monastic schools.

Scholasticism developed from the 9th to the 16th centuries, with a peak in the 12th and 13th centuries. Its method combined careful dialectical reasoning, posed questions, and written reconciliations in summae and commentaries. It sought coherent theological systems, argued for faith using reason, and integrated philosophy into Christian doctrine. Key figures include Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham, who debated issues such as causality, universals, and the nature of necessity.

Today, scholastische describes anything pertaining to scholasticism in German-language discourse, including scholastische Theologie and scholastische Philosophie. In English-language scholarship, the equivalent terms are scholastic and scholasticism. The tradition influenced later Catholic theology, education, and debates on faith and reason, and it remains a reference point for discussions of medieval epistemology and rhetoric.