2. ‘Medieval philosophy’ refers to philosophy in Western Europe during
the “medieval” period, the so called “Middle Ages.” The notion of a
“Middle Age” (or plural “Middle Ages”) was introduced in the fifteenth
century for the period between the decline of classical pagan culture in
Western Europe and what was taken to be its rediscovery during the
Renaissance.
The most significant extra-philosophical influence on medieval
philosophy throughout its thousand-year history is Christianity.
Christian institutions sustain medieval intellectual life, and Christianity’s
texts and ideas provide rich subject matter for philosophical reflection.
3. During the decline of Greco – Roman civilization, Western
philosophers turned their attention from the scientific investigation of
nature and the search of happiness in this world, to the problem of
salvation and life in another, better world.
Medieval philosophy is theocentric in its character. Essentially
“monotheistic”
From a state of polytheism to a belief in a one and only God.
God here is the center of man’s life.
4. Two main periods of medieval philosophy :
The period in the Latin West following the Early Middle Ages until the 12th century, when the works of
Aristotle and Plato were rediscovered, translated, and studied upon.
The "golden age" of the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries in the Latin West, which witnessed the culmination
of the recovery of ancient philosophy, along with the reception of its Arabic commentators, and
significant developments in the fields of philosophy of religion, logic, and metaphysics.
6. Faith: INTERNAL: It is the substance or assurance of things we hope for, but
have not yet received. Faith (confidence, belief, trust) is also our evidence of that
which is not seen—the invisible spiritual things. Faith comes before a prayer is
answered or before an individual has received what he or she has requested from
God. If we have received what we asked for, then faith is not needed.
Religion: EXTERNAL: human beings’ relation to that which they regard as
holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It is also
commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns
about their lives and their fate after death.
8. Two Roman philosophers had a great influence on the development
of medieval philosophy:
Boethius - Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (born: circa 475–7 C.E., died: 526 C.E.) has long been
recognized as one of the most important intermediaries between ancient philosophy and the Latin
Middle Ages and, through his Consolation of Philosophy, as a talented literary writer, with a gift for making
philosophical ideas dramatic and accessible to a wider public. He had previously translated Aristotle’s
logical works into Latin, written commentaries on them as well as logical textbooks, and used his logical
training to contribute to the theological discussions of the time.
Augustine - Saint Augustine was perhaps the greatest Christian philosopher of Antiquity and
certainly the one who exerted the deepest and most lasting influence. He is a saint of the Catholic
Church, and his authority in theological matters was universally accepted in the Latin Middle Ages and
remained, in the Western Christian tradition, virtually uncontested till the nineteenth century. The impact
of his views on sin, grace, freedom and sexuality on Western culture can hardly be overrated.
9. The most significant extra-philosophical influence on
medieval philosophy throughout its thousand-year
history is Christianity.
Christian institutions sustain medieval intellectual life,
and Christianity’s texts and ideas provide rich subject
matter for philosophical reflection.
Philosophy of the medieval period was closely
connected to Christian thought, particularly
theology, and the chief philosophers of the period
were churchmen. Augustine (354–430) began to
assimilate Neoplatonism into Christian doctrine in
order to give a rational interpretation
of Christian faith.
