Leo XIII and the New Scholasticism by Joseph Watzlawik, S. V. D. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 141 Leo XIII and the New Scholasticism. By JosEPH WATZLAWIK, S. V. D. Cebu City: The University of San Carlos, 1966. Pp. 238. This study, the first of a special series of monographs published by the Graduate School of this Philippine university, proposed to give answers to three questions: I) what is Neo-Scholasticism, 2) is it really a NeoScholasticism or a mere revival of medieval Scholasticism, 3) did Leo XIII favor the revival of Scholasticism in general or did he desire the revival of Thomism in the strict sense? The author understands Neo-Scholasticism to be the adaptation of the principles of medieval Scholasticism to modern problems and conditions. What are being renewed are the timeless contributions of Scholasticism, stripped of their medieval condition, a " N eo-Scholasticism to indicate that it is an adaptation to modern intellectual needs and conditions." This is what Leo XIII so vigorously promoted by force of his personal talent and the influence of his office as Supreme Pontiff. In seven chapters an account is given of the misunderstandings regarding Scholasticism old and new, of the causes of the decline of Scholasticism and its modern revival, the nature of Neo-Scholasticism, and finally in two chapters the role of Leo XIII. It is the author's contention that the Pontiff was approving and fostering Scholasticism in the broad sense, with particular emphasis on St. Thomas. There can be no doubt that Leo XIII and his successors have placed St. Thomas at the head of a pure Scholasticism and have been convinced of St. Thomas's perennial value for providing elements of adaptation and solution to the problems of every age. St. Thomas is indeed constantly singled out as the safest and most complete of the Scholastics, but certainly this is not in the sense that his paramount contribution is relative to students or initiates in philosophy. This latter point, so briefly and rapidly stated, is the weakest part of this study. The title of this monograph is somewhat misleading. Most of the work deals with the history of the rise of Neo-Scholasticism in the manner of the familiar histories of philosophy. Leo XIII played a very important role in this revival; however, this study devotes its major attention to the movement itself. Dominican House of Studies Washington, D. C. NICHOLAS HALLIGAN, 0. P. ...