structural:scholar_edition, information:filtering, stylistic:style_transfer
Anti-scholasticism

Erasmus did not have a metaphysical bone in his frail body, and had no real feeling for the philosophical concerns of scholastic theology.

He eschewed metaphysical, epistemological and logical philosophy as found in Aristotle, in particular the curriculum and systematic methods of the post-Aquinas Schoolmen (Scholastics) and what he regarded as their frigid, counter-productive Aristoteleanism: "What has Aristotle to do with Christ?"

"They can deal with any text of scripture as with a nose of wax, and knead it into what shape best suits their interest."

Erasmus held that academics must avoid philosophical factionalism, in order to "make the whole world Christian." Indeed, Erasmus thought that Scholastic philosophy actually distracted participants from their proper focus on immediate morality, unless used moderately. And, by "excluding the Platonists from their commentaries, they strangle the beauty of revelation." "They are windbags blown up with Aristotle, sausages stuffed with a mass of theoretical definitions, conclusions, and propositions."