Medieval Philosophy: Augustine, Aquinas, and Ockham
Classified in Philosophy and ethics
Written on in 
English with a size of 2.13 KB
Medieval Philosophy: Faith and Reason
The germ of medieval thought lies in the gradual assimilation of philosophy. After an initial negative attitude towards philosophy, thinkers eventually embraced it, justifying its use for claims about reality and truth. The first Christian philosopher to significantly influence scholasticism was Augustine of Hippo. His thinking reflects his personal and intellectual life. Augustine recognized the limitations of human reason and the necessity of faith, believing in an immutable truth attainable when the soul transcends itself to seek God. For Augustine, faith and reason are not incompatible; his conception of God and man as a rational soul incorporates Platonic and Neoplatonic concepts, reinterpreted to express Christian doctrines.
The origin and development of Christian scholastic philosophy in the Middle Ages are closely tied to education. The primary aim of scholasticism was to understand revealed truth, not to discover new truths independently. It utilized philosophical traditions and methods as a means to this end. Scholasticism can be distinguished by historical periods, focusing on the evolving problems and the relationship between faith and reason.
Key Scholastic Thinkers
Thomas Aquinas
Another pivotal philosopher was Thomas Aquinas, who skillfully integrated elements from various 13th-century thought sources. He achieved a profound synthesis of Greek rationalism, naturalism, and Christian thought. Aquinas's study of philosophical traditions led him to compose significant philosophical writings. During his time, scholasticism reached its zenith, but its historical cycle concluded as its central problems were abandoned and new ones emerged.
William of Ockham
William of Ockham was a highly original philosopher who collected and developed topics of interest to many intellectuals of his era. He represents a major shift in scholastic thought. His criticism paved the way for the independence of philosophy, and through him, science began to herald a new impetus, anticipating Renaissance philosophy.