In the middle ages 283

closest attention ; but his services are of a very spe-

cial kind. Albert the Great was an indefatigable

compiler of texts, a tireless commentator, an ob-

server of facts, an excellent encyclopedist; but he J

was not a profound philosopher/^

I do not mean, of course, that the Germans had

no share in the philosophy of the thirteenth cen-

tury; for they produced some men whose thought

is of the greatest significance in respect to

civilization. But their philosophy is not scholastic

philosophy, as we have been at pains to outline it

in these pages. Their system of thought contained

seeds which were foreign to the scholastic genius;

and therein are found the beginnings of their later

deepest aspirations.

This contrast between the two types of mind is

both striking and instructive. We may therefore

profitably consider it more closely in concluding

our study.

IV

What is this philosophy to which the Germans so

generally gave preference ? To understand the full

significance of this question, it is necessary to con-

sider the non-scholastic philosophies of the thii**

teenth century.

11 Cf. Schneider, "Beitrage zur Psychologic Alberts des Grossen,"

Baiimker's-Beifra^e, IV, 5, 1903. Albert in de animalibus is fond

of distinguishing the Germani and the Galli. Cf. H, J. Stadler, Al-

bertus Magnus de animalibus L. XXVI. Baiimker's-Beifrd'^fej XV-

XVI, 1916 and 1921. Incices, verbis Galli, Germania, Germani.

284 PHILOSOPHY AND CIVILIZATION

It should be stated at once that we must disre-

gard the unusual; for our study is one of general

tendencies. In that century, which was so rich in

important personalities there were certain isolated

but brilliant thinkers, who swept the philosophic

sky in meteor-like fashion, — leaving little trace of

real influence on their environment. Roger Bacon

is perhaps the most fascinating of these men. But

while he was far beyond his day in all matters

touching mathematics and natural science, he fell

just as far behind in his view of philosophy itself, —

as mere apologetics in furthering religion. Thus

he represents a twofold anachronism, — not only in

science, but in philosophy as well! Hence, how-

ever interesting this personality of the thirteenth

century may be, he remains none the less an ex-

ception, and deserves only a secondary place in our

study.

Aside from scholastic philosophy, two principal

currents of thought manifest themselves, — namely,

latin Averroism and Neo-Platonism. These are all

the more marked by the upheaval which they occa-

sioned; nevertheless, in contrast with the great

river of scholasticism, they are really mere rivulets.

The first emerges suddenly; but it disappears grad-

ually from view, in the fifteenth century, — like a

stream which sinks into some subterranean channel.

The second, on the other hand, arose slowly, but it

widened its channel and deepened its current; and,