DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2663-4619/125/23-30
Azad Jafarov
Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University
PhD in Philosophy
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2953-5546
jafarov.azad@mail.ru
Important Features of Western European
Philosophy in the Middle Ages
Abstract
In the Middle Ages, Western European philosophy occupies an important place in the history of thought. Unlike ancient Greek philosophy, medieval philosophy never had an independent status. The issues it addressed were directly or indirectly related to the main Christian doctrines. At the same time, medieval Christian philosophy no longer paid special attention to the natural world and objective existence, but to the soul and God. As a result of the transformation of Christianity into an official religion, theological studies began to emerge in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. It was in the Middle Ages that Western European philosophy began to take shape under the influence of Christian theology.
This article reflects the important features of Western European philosophy in the Middle Ages. During this period, Catholic theologians made great efforts to reconcile Christian theology with philosophy. The Catholic Church tried to maintain the connection between theoretical thoughts and Christian beliefs by using doctrines that it considered absolute truth. In general, medieval Western European philosophy was scholastic in nature, as it was separated from real life and confined to monasteries. The dominance of feudal power and church theocracy hindered the development of science and technology, and philosophy was dependent on theology. Among the greatest representatives of Western European philosophy in the Middle Ages were Saint Augustine, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Johannes Scotus Eriugena, Anselm of Canterbury, Pierre Abelard, Roger Bacon, Thomas Aquinas, Johannes Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and others.
Keywords: Western European philosophy, Christian philosophy, patristic philosophy, scholastic philosophy, Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine