Which statement best defines scholasticism?

• A. A method of ancient engineering
• B. A philosophical and theological system based on Aristotelian logic and early Church Fathers, with emphasis on tradition and dogma.
• C. A secular humanist philosophy
• D. A political theory about governance

Answer: (B)

Scholasticism is a medieval approach that seeks to reconcile faith and reason through rigorous argument, using Aristotelian logic to analyze Christian doctrine and organize it with the authority of the Church Fathers. It builds philosophical and theological systems by combining philosophical tools with theological tradition, emphasizing established teachings and dogma as the framework within which rational discussion takes place. This method flourished in universities and monasteries, with thinkers like Augustine and later Thomas Aquinas using disputation and synthesis to defend religious beliefs through reason. The other options don’t fit because scholasticism is not about engineering, secular humanism, or political theory, but about shaping theological and philosophical thought within Christian tradition.