Medieval Education - Test 3

What is scholasticism?

Method of learning and philosophical/theological inquiry dominant in medieval European universities

• Characterized by a dialectical approach to synthesizing faith and reason.

• Reached its zenith between 12-16th c.

• Main aim: to reconcile the teachings of ancient philosophers with Christian theology

Medieval education structure…

• The faculty of arts: gateway to higher education

• 2-4 year bachelors program

• After that a 2 year program for a masters

• If you had a masters you could teach

About theology…

“Queen of the Sciences” considered the most prestigious field

About medicine…

Understanding human anatomy

About law…

Both civil and canon law were crucial to society. Graduates would play important roles in the church or government

Trivium

• Grammar: input

• Dialectic: processing

• Rhetoric: output

Quadrivium

• Arithmetic: number

• Geometry: number in space

• Music: number in time

• Astronomy: number in space and time

The “quaestio” in teaching

After giving a lectio teachers would select a significant question arising from an authority’s work.

Four traditions of medieval philosophy in Europe

1. Greek Christian

2. Islamicate

3. Jewish

4. Latin Christian

Commonalities between Christianity, Islam and Judaism

1. Old testament and prophets

2. Emphasis on texts

3. Emphasis on languages

4. All shared opinions on ancient pagan philosophical traditions

About Islamicate philosophy…

• Emerged in the 8th c.

• Significant contributions: medicine, optics, and astronomy

About Jewish philosophy…

• Begins with Philo Judaeus

• Flourished in the medieval period

• Heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and Islamic philosophy

Notable Jewish philosophers…

Saadia Gaon - Emphasized rationalism in understanding Judaism

Moses Maimonides - Known for his work “Guide for the Perplexed” which sought to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with Jewish law and theology.

About Thomas Aquinas

• Italian nobleman

• Became the most prominent Catholic theologist

• Celebrated for his synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology

Popularity of medieval writers…

1. Thomas Aquinas

2. Bonaventure

3. Augustine

4. Boethius

5. Albert the Great