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Wim Verbaal
Bernard is generally considered the representative of the medieval anti-philosophical tendencies par excellence. A more detailed study of his writings, however shows his attitude to be much more complicated. This article examines how Bernard's approach to philosophy changed over the years. It concentrates on two periods, the first confrontation with Abelard around 1127 and the years after the confrontation with Gilbert of Poitiers (1148). For both periods, Bernard's writings are examined to study his attitude towards philosophy. Special attention is paid to his last treatise On consideration, which is demonstrated to be perceived in the first place as a treatise on philosophy. Apparently, towards the end of his life, Bernard accepted the importance of philosophy as a tool in a Christian 's research for the truth, but, by his treatise, he aspired to oppose a more practical and rhetorical, Ciceronian philosophy to the theories of the schools.
