Christian Philosophy: St. Augustine & Scholasticism
The Middle Ages and the Rise of Christian Philosophy
Ages: The dissolution of the Roman Empire, vividly described by St. Augustine in his book *The City of God*, marked the transition from ancient times to the Middle Ages. The crisis of the ancient world gave way to new principles and values of political and social order. Intellectual activity primarily occurred in churches and monasteries, giving rise to a philosophical current known as Scholasticism, a philosophy closely linked to religious concerns.
The Middle Ages spanned roughly from the 5th to the 15th century, encompassing 10 centuries of history. The notion that this period represented a “dark age” has been dispelled by Romantic and later critical studies by 20th-century historians and philosophers. The 13th century is of particular interest, witnessing the full development of Scholasticism, which dealt with theological and philosophical knowledge. Scholasticism is often associated with the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD). Aquinas successfully reconciled Christianity with Greek philosophy, primarily based on the thought of Aristotle. He held that philosophy is the study of the ultimate and universal reasons of all things. It is the science par excellence because it investigates the ultimate foundations of reality (as discussed in Aristotle’s metaphysics). According to St. Thomas, philosophy differs from the special sciences because the latter study only a part of the changing reality, whereas philosophy, being a universal science, studies the totality and essence of all things.
Thomas believed that the relationship between philosophy and theology is that philosophy serves, aids, and is a “slave” of theology. As an imminent rational science, theology helps in the grounding and clarification of things.
Christianity and the Integration of Faith and Reason
Christianity: Christianity brought about a profound transformation, introducing a new understanding of the world, human beings, and history, which contrasted with the earlier pagan culture. While the Greeks primarily relied on reason (logos), Christians found their main human resignation in faith. How can these two seemingly different views and ways of life be reconciled? Initially, faith and reason appeared incompatible. Tertullian, a Christian author, flatly refused to accept reason as the sole way to knowledge.
However, the first attempt at reconciliation between Greek culture and Christianity is found in St. Augustine (354-430 AD). St. Augustine, one of the most important Christian philosophers, was part of a school of philosophy called the Patristics. This school aimed to unify all disciplines, cults, and dogmas concerning the nascent Christianity. Augustine attempted to integrate faith with reason, arguing for the need to “believe to understand.” He believed that philosophy is steadfast in its quest for knowledge and truth but errs in seeking answers solely based on reason and material things, forgetting God.
Augustine engaged in a struggle against the pagan sects of his time. He became a priest and later the Bishop of Hippo in 391 AD. As a Christian philosopher, he strove to establish unity of doctrine within the Christian church. He founded his dogmatic system while engaging in the fight against various pagan sects. St. Augustine believed that while philosophy is valid in its pursuit of truth and knowledge, it is also mistaken in thinking that all answers are found only in material things or ideas. Philosophy, he argued, has neglected the soul, forgetting that human beings are not only mind and body but also spirit. According to St. Augustine, the primary object of philosophy should be focused on God and the soul; his philosophy is a “desire of God.”