Faith and Reason in the Middle Ages: An Analysis
Reason and Faith
Relationship Between Faith and Reason in the Middle Ages
The relationship between faith and reason was a dominant theme in the Middle Ages. We see a transition from a predominance of faith to a greater appreciation of reason by the end of this period. The discussion about faith and reason was not only a matter of reasoned truth but also of revealed truth, and the relationship between Church and State.
Attempts to Demonstrate God’s Existence Rationally
Saint Augustine saw no need to demonstrate the existence of God, as he considered it evident. However, other authors, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, did find value in the rational demonstration of God’s existence.
Celestial World vs. Underworld
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the prevailing view saw things as perishable, with a rejection of everything earthly as an obstacle to reaching the celestial. As the Middle Ages progressed, earthly matters gained more importance, and there was a shift from a Platonic to an Aristotelian conception of the world.
The Issue of Universals
Universal terms are those used to designate many subjects. The controversy arose when trying to determine the exact reality to which these terms refer.
Human Freedom
Christianity, in its origins, presents itself as a doctrine designed to save humanity. Over the years, philosophical affirmations acquired importance. Christianity, from its inception, addressed issues that many philosophers had already reviewed, such as the soul, truth, etc.
Various Solutions to the Problem of Faith and Reason
Several solutions have been proposed:
- A majoritarian, conciliatory approach throughout the Middle Ages.
- An oppositional stance, stating that philosophy and theology are distinct, irreconcilable worlds.
Positions of the Church Fathers
A) Saint Justin Martyr
Saint Justin, martyred in Rome in 165 AD, regarded Christianity as the only doctrine capable of solving philosophical problems. He valued philosophy and treated it as a revealed doctrine before the coming of Christ, even describing some ancient philosophers like Socrates as “saints”.
B) Origen of Alexandria
The writer Origen of Alexandria (2nd and 3rd century AD) created a synthesis between philosophy and theology and valued all knowledge, leading some to label him a heretic.
C) The School of Alexandria
This same valuation of reason is found in almost all Church Fathers, such as those of the School of Alexandria, who used philosophy as a place of knowledge.
D) Opposition Between Faith and Reason
Some authors believed that faith and reason are incompatible. They considered philosophers who did not accept revelation as heretics. Their most famous phrase is: “I believe because it is absurd not to.”
E) Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine maintained a conciliatory attitude, seeking to clarify faith and reason. He did not worry about separating them because both have the same objective: Christian truth. Reason alone cannot achieve this truth, but it is important for understanding what is believed. Saint Augustine asked how we can get to know the truth. After skepticism, he found answers in Christianity. He believed that sensitive knowledge pertains to the things of the world, accessed through the senses, and is an inferior level of knowledge. Saint Augustine proposed three steps to invoke fundamental truths:
- Faith and reason belong to different areas.
- Faith guides reason, expressed by the saying, “Believe to understand.” Faith is essential to knowing profound truths. Hence, the Christian believer and the philosopher are inseparable.
- Reason contributes to clarifying the contents of faith, albeit within certain limits, because there are revealed truths that cannot be demonstrated.
Saint Augustine (354-430)
Son of a pagan small landowner and a Christian mother, Saint Monica, Augustine lived in a family exposed to the two worlds present in the empire: paganism and Christianity. At 19, he became an adept of Manichaeism, which affirms the existence of a principle of good and a principle of evil. He later abandoned this and adopted skepticism. In 383 AD, he moved to Rome and opened a school. After attending the sermons of Saint Ambrose, he converted to Christianity and was later named bishop.
Factors influencing Saint Augustine:
- Hellenistic philosophy was in decline.
- The high-quality philosophy of Plotinus included a supernatural vision of life.
- There was significant moral and political decline in the Roman Empire.
- A new religion and a new way of thinking were spreading: Christianity.