Ludwig Babenstuber
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Babenstuber was a German
philosopher and theologian and vice-chancellor of the University of Salzburg
.
He was born in 1660 at Teining in Bavaria
. Having completed his early studies he entered the novitiate of the Order of St. Benedict at Ettal Abbey
in 1681, made his religious profession in 1682, and thereafter devoted the greater part of his life to teaching.
At the commencement of his studies he had given no promise of brilliancy, but by his untiring application and industry he shortly acquired so vast a store of knowledge, that he soon came to be regarded as one of the most learned men of his day -- "vir comsummatae in omni genere dictrinae et probitatis", as he is styled in Dom Egger's Idea ordinis Hierarchico-Benedictini, and in the History of the University of Salzburg. Until 1690 Babenstuber was Director of the scholasticate of his order at Salzburg
, taught philosophy
there from 1690 to 1693, then went to the Augustinian Schlehdorf Abbey
to teach theology
in the monastery of the Canons Regular
.
Returning to Salzburg in 1695, he took up successively the professorships of moral theology, dogmatic theology, and exegesis, in the celebrated Benedictine university of that city. He remained at Salzburg for twenty-two years, during which period he held the office of vice-rector for three years, and that of vice-chancellor of the university for six. In 1717 he returned to his monastery at Ettal, where he spent the remainder of his days.
In dogmatic theology Babenstuber was a pronounced Thomist; in moral, a vigorous defender of probabilism
. He maintained, among other things, that a single author, if he were "beyond contradiction" (omni exceptione major), could, of his own authority, render an opinion probably, even against general opinion. In matters of faith, however, he rejected the principle of probabilism absolutely. In one of his disquisitions he had also stated that it was allowable to celebrate Mass
privately on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday, but before his Ethica Supernaturalis had issued from the press, he learned that the Roman tribunals forbade it, and so he promptly corrected that assertion. Babenstuber's published works include a wide range of subjects, mainly philosophical and theological. The most important are Philosophia Thomistica (4 vols., Salzburg, 1704) and Ethica Supernaturalis (Augsburg, 1718).
He died on 5 April 1726 at the Benedictine monastery of Ettal.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
philosopher and theologian and vice-chancellor of the University of Salzburg
University of Salzburg
The University of Salzburg, or Paris Lodron University after its founder, the Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron, is located in the Austrian city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, home of Mozart. It is divided into 4 faculties: catholic theology, law, humanities and natural science.Founded in 1622, it...
.
He was born in 1660 at Teining in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. Having completed his early studies he entered the novitiate of the Order of St. Benedict at Ettal Abbey
Ettal Abbey
Ettal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Ettal close to Oberammergau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. With a community of more than 50 monks, with another five at Wechselburg, the Abbey is one of the largest Benedictine houses and is a major attraction for...
in 1681, made his religious profession in 1682, and thereafter devoted the greater part of his life to teaching.
At the commencement of his studies he had given no promise of brilliancy, but by his untiring application and industry he shortly acquired so vast a store of knowledge, that he soon came to be regarded as one of the most learned men of his day -- "vir comsummatae in omni genere dictrinae et probitatis", as he is styled in Dom Egger's Idea ordinis Hierarchico-Benedictini, and in the History of the University of Salzburg. Until 1690 Babenstuber was Director of the scholasticate of his order at Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, taught philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
there from 1690 to 1693, then went to the Augustinian Schlehdorf Abbey
Schlehdorf Abbey
Schlehdorf Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastery, later an Augustinian monastery, and is today a convent of the Missionary Dominican Sisters of King William's Town....
to teach theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in the monastery of the Canons Regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
.
Returning to Salzburg in 1695, he took up successively the professorships of moral theology, dogmatic theology, and exegesis, in the celebrated Benedictine university of that city. He remained at Salzburg for twenty-two years, during which period he held the office of vice-rector for three years, and that of vice-chancellor of the university for six. In 1717 he returned to his monastery at Ettal, where he spent the remainder of his days.
In dogmatic theology Babenstuber was a pronounced Thomist; in moral, a vigorous defender of probabilism
Probabilism
In theology and philosophy, probabilism refers to an ancient Greek doctrine of academic skepticism. It holds that in the absence of certainty, probability is the best criterion...
. He maintained, among other things, that a single author, if he were "beyond contradiction" (omni exceptione major), could, of his own authority, render an opinion probably, even against general opinion. In matters of faith, however, he rejected the principle of probabilism absolutely. In one of his disquisitions he had also stated that it was allowable to celebrate Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
privately on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday, but before his Ethica Supernaturalis had issued from the press, he learned that the Roman tribunals forbade it, and so he promptly corrected that assertion. Babenstuber's published works include a wide range of subjects, mainly philosophical and theological. The most important are Philosophia Thomistica (4 vols., Salzburg, 1704) and Ethica Supernaturalis (Augsburg, 1718).
He died on 5 April 1726 at the Benedictine monastery of Ettal.