Medieval III

III) Ethical Guidance and Emotional Fulfillment
  C) Intellectual Life
    1) Theology
      i) St. Anselm (1033-1109) of Beck
        a) proved god existed - ontological proof
          1) logical nessecarly for god to exist
          2) God is greatest being one can think of
            i) a being that doesn't exist isn't very great
          3) proved god exists given his assumptions
            i) assumes Plato's idea that idea's are the only real things
          4) provided a powerful reinforcement for people's beliefs
            i) intellectuals believed it, so it was OK to believe in God
      ii) Peter Abelard (Sic et Non - yes or no)
        a) Heloise - Peter was her personal tutor
          1) they fell in love with each other
          2) this would deny Peter a rise through the church ranks
          3) They decided to have an affair
          4) Heloise gets pregnant - they hae a secret marriage
          5) a band of thugs go to beat up Peter and the castrate him
          6) Heloise enters a convent - Peter goes on to be a great theologian
        b) Teaching methods
          1) writes sic et non
          2) takes 156 church arguments and gathers all the evidence for and against each answer and has his students debate the issue
          3) Students who looked at both sides come out with stronger beliefs
        c) Peter Lombard (sentences)
          1) show how contradictions in the bible / church are not really contradictions
*Shows willingness of theologians to fix problems
        d) St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica, Summa Contra Gentile)
          1) looks at all religions and states why Christianity has the best chance at being read
          2) Tried to make every line of Christian teaching all form together to create one coherent message
          3) Strengths
            i) said there are certain standards that everyone must keep - murder is bad - one can legislate this
          4) said one cant legislate against anger - unrealistic standard to live up to
          5) ability to use other ideas instead of saying he is too good to rely on others
            i) Aristotle was a key source
            ii) willing to use others ideas
          6) Humility
            i) intelligent people think they are great
            ii) never showed off his intellect
            iii) he was never impressed with himself
  D) Spiritual Life
    1) Benedictine orders
      i) still around in high middle ages
      ii) many people wanted to join the monasteries