25
October 1180 A.D. John
of Salisbury Dies—Secretary to 2 Archbishops of Canterbury
Graves,
Dan. “John of Salisbury Defined His Age.”
Christianity.com. Jul 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/901-1200/john-of-salisbury-defined-his-age-11629808.html. Accessed 4 Jun 2014.
It is the destiny of some lives to summarize their
era. Such a one was Samuel Johnson, for instance. And such a one was John of
Salisbury.
The intimate friend of Pope
Hadrian IV, well-known to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, he was also in contact with
many of the leading men of his age, and entrusted with the affairs of state and
church for which his moderation and practical sense made him a trusted adviser
and agent. John sat at the feet of the famed nominalist scholar Peter Abelard,
but did not accept uncritically all that the master had to teach. He served as
secretary to two archbishops of Canterbury and was wounded when archbishop
Thomas à Becket was hacked to death by four ruthless knights. John wrote
extensively and many of his writings cast light upon the lives, events and
schools of his day. Little wonder, then, that his era is sometimes called the
Age of John of Salisbury.
John's close association with
Becket caused him trouble. Even before his master was exiled by Henry II to the
continent, John was forced abroad. John thought Becket tactless and rude in his
dealings with the king and urged him to a more moderate course. Nonetheless,
when the archbishop was killed, John wrote his biography in such terms as would
ensure that Rome would declare him a saint.
In one of his books, John gives
a brief account of his own life. One of its more interesting details was that
as a child he was used by a would-be wizard in a magical experiment. Thanks to
his practical good sense the experiment failed.
It was as a scholar John won
much of his renown in his own day. He was a strong advocate of Aristotalian
logic and wrote influentially on the subject. He also developed a political
theory which prefigured later works such as the Lex Rex of Samuel
Rutherford. John argued that a king is restrained by God's laws and may be
executed if he disobeys those laws.
John's good sense is obvious
when he writes against follies such as witchcraft, astrology and the
interpretation of dreams. Yes, certain men in the Bible interpreted dreams, but
they also were able to report what was the dream which they interpreted.
"If there be any who enjoys such special favor let him join Daniel and
Joseph and like them attribute it to the Lord. But for him whom the spirit of
truth has not illumined it is vain to place trust in the art, since every art
has its source in nature and its development in experience and reason." He
argues that experience and reason are so undependable in these matters that
only revelation from God can draw any sure truth from them. He concludes that
the most effective remedy for nonsense is to "embrace the true faith,
refuse to listen to such lies and never give thought to follies and inanities
of the sort." Will Durant depicts John as a suave doubter.
Despite his talents, John of
Salisbury struggled financially most of his life. He died on
this day, October 25, 1180
and his age was the poorer for the loss of this man of wit, integrity,
moderation, intelligence and faith.
Bibliography:
2. Durant, Will. The Age of Faith. New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1950.
3. Edwards, Paul. "John of Salisbury" in Encyclopedia
of Philosophy. New York, Macmillan and Free Press, 1967.
4. Haring, N. M. "John of Salisbury." The New Catholic Encyclopedia.
New York: Thomson, Gale, 2002-
5. "John, called of Salisbury." Dictionary of National
Biography. London: Oxford University Press, 1921 - 1996.
6. Runes, Dagobert D. "John of Salisbury On Dream Interpretation"
in Treasury
of Philosophy. New York: Philosophical Library, 1955.
Last updated July,
2007.
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