Which subjects did Peter Abelard study before becoming a theologian?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Peter Abelard Peter Abelard, with Héloïse, miniature portrait by Jean de Meun, 14th century; in the Musee Conde, Chantilly, France.

Before Peter Abelard became a prominent theologian, he dedicated himself to the study of philosophy, with a particular focus on logic.1

He famously sacrificed his inheritance and the prospect of a military career to pursue these intellectual interests in France. During his early career, he studied under masters such as Roscelin of Compiègne and William of Champeaux, engaging deeply with the philosophical problem of universals and developing his own independent philosophy of language. It was only later, in 1113 or 1114, that he traveled to Laon to formally study theology under Anselm of Laon.1