Medieval Thought

The Western Intellectual Tradition from Antiquity to the 13th Century

This book provides an introduction to the central themes of medieval thought in the Latin West from antiquity to the thirteenth century. As Michael Haren demonstrates, medieval thought stemmed from the confluence of the speculative legacy of antiquity with the powerful new religious orientation and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Author:Michael Haren
Published: Macmillan, London, 1985
Series:New Studies in Medieval History
Edition:1
Total Pages:269
Format:Book
Topic:- Biography > Relations and Sources > Platonism - Neo-platonism > Plato > Platonism (Christian)
- Influence and Survival > The Middle Ages (430-1453) > Influence on the various authors and writings > Boethius (ca. 480- ca. 525)
- Influence and Survival > The Middle Ages (430-1453) > Influence on the various authors and writings > John Scotus Eriugena (±815-±877)
Status:Active
Description
Summary:This book provides an introduction to the central themes of medieval thought in the Latin West from antiquity to the thirteenth century. As Michael Haren demonstrates, medieval thought stemmed from the confluence of the speculative legacy of antiquity with the powerful new religious orientation and changed structures of society of the medieval period. He outlines three major bodies of ideas on which Christian thinkers drew - Platonism, Aristotelianism and the Arabic philosophical tradition - and shows how these ideas were adapted and given new application by the thinkers of western Europe. Dr. Haren considers the systems of thought generated by, for example, Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas and Bonaventure. The study of their methods and arguments is essential for an understanding of medieval civilisation and of the subsequent intellectual history of Europe.