Science and Universities at the XI-XIVth centuries

Résumé du document

Science is opposite to dogma. Dogma is imposed a truth whereas Science is trying to understand phenomenon, and is open to criticism and correction. Scientific results are always comparing to the reality. This definition can be applied today but also back in the XII century. Science in the history is strongly linked with philosophy. It could be strange for us living in the XXI century to consider philosophy as a science. However, the first philosopher was doing a sort of science because they tried to explain natural phenomenon by philosophy. During the middle-age, what we called science is about studying the nature.

There is no clear classification at the middle-age and the Renaissance between the different disciplines in what we called sciences. Theology, logic, mathematics, natural philosophy are few of the subjects and the distinction is blurred. A thinker knows a bit of each discipline to be considered as such. Bridges between disciplines are numerous. To clearly understand the medieval logic, we have to understand the place where it is elaborate: the University.

The term university appeared in the XI century. One of the first universities appears in Paris in 1200. This corporation of masters and students obtained some privileges from the pope in 1200 and a complete autonomy in 1231. There are 9 universities between the XIII and the XIV century. We can give as other example the University of Oxford in 1249 and the one of Cambridge in 1249. They appear in a rebirth context where the antic knowledge is rediscovered and the Aristotelianism is one of the most important influences. This thirst for knowledge will continue until the Renaissance.

Extraits

[...] There are 9 universities between the XIII and the XIV century. We can give as other example the University of Oxford in 1249 and the one of Cambridge in 1249. They appear in a rebirth context where the antic knowledge is rediscovered and the Aristotelianism is one of the most important influences. This thirst for knowledge will continue until the Renaissance. Map of the medieval universities. A university is composed into 4 faculties: Theology, Canon law, medicine and arts. The time of studies was from 6 to 15 years. [...]

[...] Indeed, The Church is suspicious with regards to these texts.[1] They are threatening for the Christian dogma because of a scientific rationalism. The Church forbade the University of Paris, the study of Aristotle and his comments in 1210. This prohibition is repeated by Gregory IX, the pope, in 1231. Aristotle is condemned by the Bishop of Paris in 1277. But it is quite interesting to note that these measures be repeated many times in so little time. This is because there is a real progress, more or less clandestine, into the first Parisian aristotelianism at the art faculty. [...]

[...] The universities are really extended in all Europe only at the end of our period, in XIVth century. So this knowledge was real, but limited. This is not comparable to the Renaissance. And as we saw, the Christianity, which was just beginning to strengthen, reinforce its power, was divided about science. According to some theologian, Nature is a creation of God so this is important to study it and to be amazed. Which is why we have some great thinker just like Thomas Aquinas or Saint Augustin who are religious people. [...]

[...] - MINOT J., History of the French universities, Paris p. - VERGER J., Universities of Middle-age, Paris p. - GILSON E., Bonaventure philosophy, Paris p. Articles - VANDIJK W.C, University in Encyclopaedia Universalis - BOQUIN D., Argumentation in the Middle-age in Science pour la vie, Octobre-décembre 2005, n°48. - CELEYRETTE G., “Science in Europe in the Middle-age”, in Utopies, 46-53 p. GERHARDS A., Dictionnaire historique des Ordres religieux, Op. Cit. p GERHARDS A., Dictionnaire historique des Ordres religieux, Op. Cit. p. [...]

[...] They prefer base their study on Avicenna. Some mendicants have a really strong position on the subject and they refuse to have any link between, philosophy and theology. For example, Bonaventure, a Franciscan chief, think this way. On the opposite, Thomas Aquinas from the Dominican order thinks that philosophy can't be separate from theology. Philosophy has no autonomy. He is like a Christian philosopher. So we have some religious who can reconcile faith and reason, and others who refused to attach an importance to science and reason. [...]