FILOSOFIA MEDIEVAL: origem, conceito e principais filósofos - Toda Matéria

Summary

The medieval philosophy, spanning from the 5th to the 15th century, intertwined Christian faith with Greek philosophy, particularly the works of Plato and Aristotle. Divided into two main phases, Patristic and Scholastic, it focused on the defense and spread of Christianity. Key figures like Saint Augustine emphasized the harmony between faith and reason. Scholasticism, rooted in Aristotelian logic, aimed to justify faith through reason, most notably through Thomas Aquinas' five proofs for the existence of God. Despite its influence, the rise of rationalism and empiricism in the 15th century began to challenge the integration of faith and reason.

Takeaways

• 😀 The medieval philosophy developed during the Middle Ages, from the 5th to the 15th century, with roots in Greek philosophy, particularly the works of Plato and Aristotle.
• 😀 The philosophy of the Middle Ages aimed to reconcile Christian faith with Greek philosophy, attempting to merge reason and religious belief.
• 😀 The two major phases of medieval philosophy are Patristics and Scholasticism. Patristics, which began around the 5th century, focused on the dissemination of Christianity and the adaptation of Greek philosophical ideas.
• 😀 Key figures in Patristics included Augustine, Irenaeus, Ignatius of Antioch, and others, who sought to integrate Platonic ideas, such as the world of ideas, with the Christian doctrine of God.
• 😀 Augustine's philosophy emphasized the unity of faith and reason. He argued that belief in God could be complemented by reason, and both were essential in the pursuit of truth.
• 😀 Augustine's providentialism posited that everything that happens in the world occurs by God's will, and human beings must accept divine providence to find truth.
• 😀 Scholasticism, which emerged from the 9th to 16th century, focused on teaching philosophy in schools and universities, with an emphasis on logic and reason, often through the lens of Aristotle's works.
• 😀 Thomas Aquinas was the main representative of Scholasticism. He argued that reason could be used to understand and prove the existence of God, while faith could help justify and guide reason.
• 😀 Aquinas' Five Ways (or Five Proofs) for the existence of God, include arguments from movement, causality, contingency, perfection, and finality, all pointing to the necessity of a divine creator.
• 😀 Medieval philosophy laid the groundwork for the development of European universities and contributed to the spread of Christianity, but by the 15th century, new questions from the Renaissance started to challenge the relationship between reason, science, and faith.

Q & A

What is medieval philosophy and which period does it cover?

Medieval philosophy refers to the philosophical thought developed during the Middle Ages, spanning from the 5th to the 15th century. It was deeply influenced by Christianity and the classical philosophy of ancient Greece, particularly the works of Plato and Aristotle.

What are the two main phases of medieval philosophy?

The two main phases of medieval philosophy are *Patrística* and *Escolástica*. The *Patrística* phase began around the 5th century and was focused on spreading Christianity and adapting Greek philosophy to Christian teachings. The *Escolástica* phase emerged from the 9th to the 16th century and sought to reconcile reason and faith using Aristotelian logic.

What was the central concern of *Patrística* philosophy?

The central concern of *Patrística* was the dissemination and defense of Christianity, particularly through the adaptation of Greek philosophical ideas, especially from Plato, to support Christian teachings and counter pagan beliefs.

How did the Church Fathers link Plato’s philosophy with Christianity?

The Church Fathers linked Plato’s concept of the 'world of ideas' with the Christian belief in the divine word of God. They viewed the 'world of ideas' as a realm of ultimate truth, akin to the divine revelation accessible to humanity through God.

What is the significance of Santo Agostinho’s philosophy?

Santo Agostinho's philosophy emphasized the harmony between faith and reason, coining the phrase 'Faith seeking understanding.' He believed that reason could help understand the truth revealed by faith, and he also introduced the idea of providentialism, which holds that everything in life happens according to God's will.

What was the role of *Escolástica* philosophy in the Middle Ages?

*Escolástica* philosophy, which emerged between the 9th and 16th centuries, focused on using reason and logic to reconcile Christian teachings with the principles of classical Greek philosophy. It developed alongside the establishment of universities and aimed to demonstrate the rational basis of faith, especially through the works of Aristotle.

Who was São Tomás de Aquino and what were his key contributions?

São Tomás de Aquino was one of the most influential figures of *Escolástica*. He is best known for his work in synthesizing Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine. His most notable contribution was the 'Five Proofs' for the existence of God, which used logic and observation of the natural world to argue for the presence of a divine creator.

What are the 'Five Proofs' of God’s existence proposed by São Tomás de Aquino?

São Tomás de Aquino’s 'Five Proofs' (or 'Five Ways') for the existence of God are: 1) The Argument from Motion (everything in motion must have a first mover, which is God), 2) The Argument from Causality (everything has a cause, and the first cause is God), 3) The Argument from Contingency (everything contingent exists because of a necessary being, which is God), 4) The Argument from Perfection (different degrees of perfection point to a perfect being—God), and 5) The Argument from Purpose (everything in the universe has a purpose, implying a higher intelligence, which is God).

How did medieval philosophy contribute to the establishment of universities in Europe?

Medieval philosophy, particularly *Escolástica*, contributed to the rise of universities by emphasizing that knowledge could be taught and learned through logical reasoning. Universities like those in Bologna (1080) and Paris (1170) emerged during this period, focusing on the study of philosophy, theology, and the sciences based on rational inquiry and debate.

How did Renaissance thinkers challenge medieval philosophy?

Renaissance thinkers, influenced by humanism, rationalism, and empiricism, began to challenge medieval philosophy by emphasizing the role of human reason, individual experience, and empirical observation. This shift gradually distanced scientific inquiry from religious dogma, leading to a decline in the strict adherence to faith-based explanations and fostering the development of modern science.