Peter Abelard Peter Abelard (c. 1079 - 21 April 1142) was a Medieval French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, poet, composer and musician. In philosophy he is celebrated for his logical solution to the problem of universals via nominalism and cnceptualism and his pioneering of intent in ethics. Often referred to as the "Descartes of the twelfth century," he is considered a forerunner of Rousseau, Kant, and Spinoza. He is sometimes credited as a chief forerunner of modern empiricism. In history and popular culture, he is best known for his passionate and tragic love affair, and intense philosophical exchange, with his brilliant student and eventual wife, Héloïse d'Argenteuil. Read More Read Less