Does the Habit Make the Nun? A Case Study of Heloise's Influence on Abelard's Ethical Philosophy
Brooke Heidenreich Findley
Abstract A careful reading of Heloise's letters reveals both her contribution to Abelard's ethical thought and the differences between concerns his. In letters, Heloise focuses on innate moral qualities inner person or animus. Hypocrisy—the misrepresentation through false outer appearance, exemplified by potentially deceitful religious habit habitus—is a matter great concern her. When Abelard responds ideas, first in his later Collationes Scito te ipsum, he turns discussion away from original interests. He transforms metaphor habitus as appearance into another type habitus, habitual process acquiring virtue, integrates focus animus developing ideas about sin intention. Examining allows us appreciate distinct contributions both.
Vivarium