Reason in Mediaevel Philosophy

Abstract

The purpouse of this paper is to examine main factors determining the medieval understanding of reason and explain differences among contemporary historians in their evaluation of medieval rationalism. According to this interpretation proper characteristic of scholastic thought should take into account teleological orientation of medieval culture. Religious faith and revelation were considered by most of philosophers not as external authority but rather as a internal ,,frame” which settled either aim and boundaries for rational investigations. This ,,frame” appoined by revelation pointed out scope not only for philosophical investigations but organised whole medieval culture providing its unity. Medieval reason was independent within this theological limitations in a similar manner as contemporary analitic philosophy is independent from science and scientific rationalism. Contemporary criticism toward medieval rationalism is caused by transposition of Enlighment's criterions of rationality on medieval thought.