Dodi Ve-Nechdi (Quaestiones Naturales)

the main ideas on certain aspects of life, especially of the higher life, running through the De eodem are those to be met with in the Quaestiones.

To summarize this critic's conclusions in his own words as nearly as possible: First, as to the form of composition, there is a mixture of prose and poetry, though the former far prevails. The dialogue itself is intended to be an incentive to the nephew to strive after higher spiritual knowledge, to throw himself with fervor into philosophy, the difficulties of which Adelard by no means minimizes.

Adelard's works reflect the influence of the conditions of the times in which he lived and of the philosophical theories of his day; and he uses of that material what appears in harmony with his system. Scarcely original and creative himself, he is at pains to reproduce the old teachings of philosophy in a manner in accord with the knowledge of the hour. The influence of Plato colors his entire system, and his Platonism has its roots both in Augustine and Boethius. He came into contact with the Oriental-Arabic sciences, such as mathematics, physics, and medicine, and they had a remarkably strong influence upon him.

The criteria of truth can only be established by reason, not by sensation. The spiritual power of the soul, which stands higher than the emotional, is able to raise phenomena to a higher degree of knowledge, namely, truth. Reason is subject to no deception like the senses; it leads and guides its servants, the external sensations, which it rules and masters. The soul, on the one hand, is the means of teaching us knowledge of the existence of objects, their origin, etc., and on the other hand, by means of reflection, she gets to know herself, to know reason and intelligence.

The power to attain to absolute truth is denied to ultimate reason; but what is denied to the weakness of man is reserved for God alone.

As in all cosmological speculations of the Scholastics, so also with Adelard, the dogma of the creation of the world is the groundwork of our knowledge concerning the world. The world and its ultimate principles are not, as with Plato, eternal, but created. Matter in itself is lifeless and heavy, a passive substance, capable of no movement, possessing no sensibility. In consequence of the absence of