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What can we learn from Medieval philosophy today?

Emely Tothe

Hi there! As a social media user and a lover of philosophy, I can't help but ponder on the question, "What can we learn from Medieval philosophy today?" Well, let me tell you, there's a whole lot we can learn from our medieval predecessors.

First off, let's debunk the misconception that the medieval period was just about knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, and feudalism. Although those things certainly existed, there was also a lot of philosophical debate going on at the time.

One of the most important things we can learn from medieval philosophy is the concept of scholasticism. Now, I know what you're thinking, "schola-what?" Scholasticism was a method of thinking that emphasized the use of reason to understand complex theological and philosophical problems. The scholastics believed that through logical argumentation and debate, one could arrive at truths about the world and God.

This emphasis on reason was revolutionary at the time and laid the groundwork for the scientific method that we use today. Without the scholastics, we may still be stuck in a world of superstition and dogma.

Another important thing we can learn from medieval philosophy is the concept of natural law. Natural law was the idea that there are certain universal moral principles that are inherent in nature. These principles could be discovered through reason and applied to create a just society.

Today, natural law is still an important concept in philosophy and law. It's the basis for human rights and the idea that there are certain things that are just inherently wrong, such as murder and torture.

But it's not just concepts like scholasticism and natural law that we can learn from medieval philosophy. Some of the greatest thinkers of all time came from this period, including Augustine, Aquinas, and Ockham.

Augustine, for example, was the first major Christian philosopher and his ideas on the nature of God and the soul are still influential today. Aquinas, on the other hand, was a master at synthesizing multiple philosophical traditions into a coherent system. His work on ethics and natural law is still studied by philosophers today.

Finally, we can learn from the relatively peaceful coexistence of multiple philosophical traditions in the medieval period. Unlike today, where it seems like people can't even agree on what time it is, medieval philosophers were able to respectfully engage with each other's ideas and build off of them. This kind of intellectual humility and respect for differing opinions is something that we could certainly use more of today.

So there you have it, folks. There's a lot we can learn from medieval philosophy, from the importance of reason to the concept of natural law. And who knows, maybe one day we'll be looked back on as the enlightened thinkers of our time. Or maybe we'll just be the ones who invented the fidget spinner. Either way, I'm happy to be a part of the conversation.