Medieval Philosophy

ebook ∣ A Beginner's Guide to the Great Thinkers of the Middle Ages, from Augustine to Aquinas, and Their Quest to Synthesize Christian Theology with Greek Reason · Western Philosophy

By The Philosophy School

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Format

ebook

Series

Western Philosophy

Author

The Philosophy School

Publisher

The Philosophy School

Release

18 September 2025

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Subjects

Philosophy Nonfiction

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Step into the vibrant intellectual world of the Middle Ages, an era far from 'dark' but instead alight with the monumental quest to forge a unified worldview from two profound legacies: the divine revelation of Jerusalem and the rigorous reason of Athens.

MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY: A Beginner's Guide invites you on an accessible journey through a thousand years of Western thought, exploring the remarkable efforts of its greatest minds to reconcile Christian theology with Greek philosophy. From the fall of Rome to the cusp of the Renaissance, witness the intellectual drama unfold:

  • Discover how Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE) laid the foundational blueprint for early medieval thought, adapting Neoplatonism to Christian doctrine and grappling with concepts of evil, free will, and the nature of time in his seminal works like Confessions and The City of God.
  • Explore the critical bridge figure, Boethius (c. 480-524 CE), who, from his prison cell, preserved essential Aristotelian logic and offered a definitive solution to the paradox of divine foreknowledge and human free will in The Consolation of Philosophy.
  • Witness the rise of Scholasticism with Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 CE), the "Father of Scholasticism," whose principle of "faith seeking understanding" (fides quaerens intellectum) led to the groundbreaking ontological argument for God's existence.
  • Engage with the controversial brilliance of Peter Abelard (1079-1142 CE), whose dialectical method in Sic et Non challenged traditional authority and whose intentionalist ethics prefigured modern moral philosophy.
  • Experience the "Great Disruption" caused by the rediscovery of the complete works of Aristotle in the 12th and 13th centuries, a torrent of knowledge that upended the established worldview and sparked intense debate.
  • Journey through the grand synthesis of Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274 CE), the "Angelic Doctor," who masterfully integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology in his monumental Summa Theologica, offering his famous Five Ways for God's existence and a comprehensive theory of natural law.
  • Uncover the "Other Aristotle" with Roger Bacon (c. 1220-1292 CE), whose pioneering call for scientia experimentalis (experimental science) foreshadowed the scientific revolution and challenged the deductive focus of his peers.
  • Observe the unraveling of the medieval synthesis through the subtle distinctions of John Duns Scotus (c. 1266-1308 CE), emphasizing the primacy of the divine will and the unique "thisness" (haecceity) of individuals.
  • Conclude with the radical thought of William of Ockham (c. 1287-1347 CE), whose famous Ockham's Razor and thoroughgoing Nominalism effectively sundered faith and reason, paving the way for modern philosophy.

    • This beginner's guide demystifies complex philosophical concepts, making the profound insights and persistent struggles of the medieval mind accessible to contemporary readers. It's an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the foundational ideas that shaped Western civilization and continue to resonate in discussions of faith, reason, and reality today.

    Format

    ebook

    Series

    Western Philosophy

    Author

    The Philosophy School

    Publisher

    The Philosophy School

    Release

    18 September 2025

    Share

    Subjects

    Philosophy Nonfiction
    Medieval Philosophy