Medieval MindsMedieval Minds

Christianity Confronts Philosophy Christianity Confronts Philosophy in the Roman Empire and Beyondin the Roman Empire and Beyond

Dark Ages & Medieval MindDark Ages & Medieval Mind

Christianity took hold of Roman Empire in Christianity took hold of Roman Empire in AD 313 (Roman Empire fell in AD 476)AD 313 (Roman Empire fell in AD 476)

Europe sank into Dark Ages.Europe sank into Dark Ages.Christian Church established as pre-Christian Church established as pre-

eminent religion of Western worldeminent religion of Western worldDogmaDogma::

Church got power and wealth by its creedChurch got power and wealth by its creed

Duality in Medieval ChristianityDuality in Medieval Christianity

LanguagesLanguages KingdomsKingdoms HumanityHumanity RulerRuler

God’s RelationGod’s Relation

Greek philosophy: God in relation to Greek philosophy: God in relation to cosmoscosmosGives order (Anaxagoras, Plato)Gives order (Anaxagoras, Plato)Movement (Aristotle)Movement (Aristotle)Reason (Stoics)Reason (Stoics)

Christianity: God in relation to historyChristianity: God in relation to historyDirectly involved in human affairsDirectly involved in human affairsGod became human beingGod became human being

Christianity’s Image of GodChristianity’s Image of God

MonotheismMonotheism

CreationismCreationism

OmnipotenceOmnipotence

Divine paternityDivine paternity

Christianity’s Concept of HumanityChristianity’s Concept of Humanity

Made in God’s imageMade in God’s image Soul is immortalSoul is immortal ResurrectionResurrection

What does this do to What does this do to history?history?

Platonic Christian ThoughtPlatonic Christian Thought

Theology:Theology:Another worldAnother worldWorld of senses made in image of ideasWorld of senses made in image of ideasCreator deityCreator deityGood above all elseGood above all else

AnthropologyAnthropology Immortality of soulImmortality of soulSoul’s true home is in world of ideasSoul’s true home is in world of ideasSouls are judged after deathSouls are judged after death

Rise of Christian ChurchRise of Christian ChurchEvangelization PeriodEvangelization Period

Faith is spread through missionariesFaith is spread through missionariesBecame official Church of RomeBecame official Church of Rome

Patristic PeriodPatristic Period (2 (2ndnd-8-8thth centuries) centuries)Church dogma is systematized and codifiedChurch dogma is systematized and codifiedDefending itself against pagans or crushing critics by Defending itself against pagans or crushing critics by

calling them blasphemerscalling them blasphemers

Scholastic PeriodScholastic Period (9 (9thth – 16 – 16thth centuries) centuries)Christian philosophy evolves based on Plato and Christian philosophy evolves based on Plato and

Aristotle but still based on dogmaAristotle but still based on dogmaMain school of thought of Medieval AgeMain school of thought of Medieval Age

Augustine of HippoAugustine of Hippo(AD 354-430)(AD 354-430)

From N. AfricaFrom N. Africa Followed Followed

ManichaeanismManichaeanism Struggled with sensual Struggled with sensual

naturenature ““God grant me chastity…God grant me chastity…

but not yet.”but not yet.” Eventually converted to Eventually converted to

Christianity, became Christianity, became priest and Bishop of priest and Bishop of Hippo (Algeria) Hippo (Algeria)

Plato and AugustinePlato and Augustine

Adapted Platonic Adapted Platonic principles that fit neatly principles that fit neatly into Christian dogmainto Christian dogma Sought to “Christianize” Sought to “Christianize”

PlatoPlato

Started point is faith-Started point is faith-basedbased Beliefs of Holy Mother Beliefs of Holy Mother

Church not fallibleChurch not fallible Everything came from GodEverything came from God

God and Free WillGod and Free Will

If God is all-knowing and all-If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, how can there be free will powerful, how can there be free will and evil in the world?and evil in the world? If actions existed in the mind of God, If actions existed in the mind of God,

then people should not be held then people should not be held responsible…responsible…

Augustine’s response:Augustine’s response: Time:Time: Free will:Free will:

Original SinOriginal Sin

Original Sin given to Adam and Even Original Sin given to Adam and Even in Garden of Eden when disobeyed in Garden of Eden when disobeyed GodGod

Evil exists because of thisEvil exists because of this Augustine’s Response to Nature of Augustine’s Response to Nature of

Evil:Evil:

Anselm of CanterburyAnselm of Canterbury(1033-1109)(1033-1109)

• “Credo ut intelligam” (I believe that I may understand)– Faith comes first before understand world

around us

• Anselm’s Ontological Argument:• There is contradiction in denying existence of God.

Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas1225-1274 AD1225-1274 AD

Sought to Christianize Sought to Christianize AristotleAristotle

Reconciled the dilemma of Reconciled the dilemma of Faith v. ReasonFaith v. Reason– Religion and reason do not Religion and reason do not

represent separate truths represent separate truths and therefore mutually and therefore mutually exclusive (what was called exclusive (what was called Double Truth): there is one Double Truth): there is one Truth.Truth.

Human Intellect of AquinasHuman Intellect of Aquinas

Humanity did not need divine Humanity did not need divine intervention to thinkintervention to think– Need to observe to ascertain the FormNeed to observe to ascertain the Form– Can not truly grasp Form because Can not truly grasp Form because

embedded in the corporeal reality embedded in the corporeal reality

Proving God’s ExistenceProving God’s Existence Motion is a reality (to human Motion is a reality (to human

perception): Primary Mover=Godperception): Primary Mover=God New things come into being all the New things come into being all the

time: First Cause = Godtime: First Cause = God All things change and based on All things change and based on

something else for their existence: something else for their existence: Original = GodOriginal = God

Inherent perfection in nature: Inherent perfection in nature: Perfection = GodPerfection = God

Order exists everywhere: Organizer Order exists everywhere: Organizer = God= God

UniversalsUniversals

Like Aristotle, Aquinas believes Like Aristotle, Aquinas believes everything = actuality (what it is) + everything = actuality (what it is) + potentiality (what it will become)potentiality (what it will become)

Knowledge is both Knowledge is both sensitivesensitive and and intelligentintelligent..– Intelligence is divided into abstraction, Intelligence is divided into abstraction,

judgment and reasoningjudgment and reasoning

William of OckhamWilliam of Ockham1300-13491300-1349

Ockham’s Razor:Ockham’s Razor: When all things are considered, the When all things are considered, the

simplest explanation is the truest one.simplest explanation is the truest one. In other words, Aristotle and Plato In other words, Aristotle and Plato

are nonsensicalare nonsensical Physical reality exists in and of itselfPhysical reality exists in and of itself Knowledge comes from direct sensory Knowledge comes from direct sensory

experiencesexperiences

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

Please take a moment to consider the Please take a moment to consider the following:following: Does God exist and if so, how do you prove Does God exist and if so, how do you prove

it? If not, how do you know?it? If not, how do you know? Are humanity’s actions done with a purpose Are humanity’s actions done with a purpose

from God or do humans have Free Will?from God or do humans have Free Will?

For tomorrow, write down your thoughts For tomorrow, write down your thoughts in 1-2 paragraphs.in 1-2 paragraphs.