Abstract
This paper describes various ideas of ancient and medieval philosophy. The author begins by contrasting the concepts of reason and faith. Also analyzed is the belief system of a higher being. Philosophies of both Christian and Jewish religions are highlighted and the major writings briefly introduced. The author also includes other philosophical schools of thought from this time period, including realism and natural theology.

Outline:
Faith and Reason
Natural Theology
Universals
Works cited

From the Paper
"Faith and reason are often seen as adversarial. It appears that since the middle ages the two principles fail to find common ground. Reason is about gathering evidence that supports a position. Faith, on the other hand, is the formation of belief in the absence of or in opposition to evidence that appears to prove other than that which is believed. For those who support reason, faith would appear to be irrational. "

Tags:philosophy, theology, realism, belief, rationality

Abstract
This paper examines 11th and 12th century Scholasticism and the role it played in medieval culture. The author focuses on understanding scholasticism, scholasticism influences. Discusses the beginnings of scholasticism, the medieval cosmology, question of the universal, the "Book of Sentences", the translation of the work of Aristotle, and major philosophers of the medieval period.

From the Paper
"In the Middle Ages, there was a philosophy and theology of Western Christendom known scholasticism (scholasticism, 1993). Almost any accomplished philosopher at this time was also a theologian. This was evident in the way they included theological writings in many of their philosophies. Although the Middle Ages had several scholastic philosophies, the basis of "all scholastic thought was the conjunction of faith and reason (scholasticism, 1993)." The greatest philosophers were able to rationalize and understand faith by the use of reason. Through this reasoning, philosophies not related to theology were developed and taught by these "medieval thinkers (scholasticism, 1993).""

Tags:aristotle, aquinas

Abstract
The paper addresses the ancient philosophical problem of the 'universals', how we know something is always, universally true and applicable to every single situation in an unerring and absolute manner. The paper explains the view of medieval philosophers and then discusses the modern views of many social scientists. The paper also shows how in politics, the question of what constitutes universal human rights continues to perplex the international community.

From the Paper
"How do we know something is always, universally true and applicable to every single situation in an unerring and absolute manner? This is one of the oldest problems in philosophy, known as the problem of the 'universals.' In medieval philosophy, this formulation was specifically configured by Boethius to posit the apparent paradox that nothing can be 'universal' because it is never isolated from other parts of things that affect its nature. In other words, everything exists only 'in context.' According to Boethius, a universal has to conform to several particulars. It must exist "in its entirety, and not only in part," that is, as a self-contained substance, "simultaneously, and not in a temporal succession," in other words, it should not be reliant upon a certain and specific series of causes and "it should constitute the substance of its particulars" in other words, it should be unadulterated."

Tags:social, science, politics, Socrates, Plato, postmodernists

Abstract
This paper describes the evolution of philosophy in Western Europe and some of the major philosophers of that time, including Saint Augustine, Boethius and John Scottus Eriugena. The paper includes biographical information on each of these philosophers and a look at how and why they were each connected to the church.

From the Paper
"Common thought holds that this is the case because Augustine was writing in the last days of the ancient civilizations. Many of these same academicians would also say that for the next 500 years or so there wouldn't be a lot in the way of "higher" intellectual endeavor. It can be shown that although one must of necessity had to be both aristocratic, or at least of more than merely adequate means, and ordained, philosophy certainly was not dead, and indeed was pursued with great vigor and sometimes great acrimony and at no little personal danger, depending on whether or not the church liked the ideas being put forth."

Tags:roman, papacy, european, society, conflict, missionaries, power, anselm, texts, manuscripts

Abstract
The following paper will look at Aquinas' contribution to the modern-day philosophy of law. As much as anything, Aquinas may be credited with bringing Aristotelian logic to the philosophical exploration of the law. Beyond that, Aristotle articulated - for medieval audiences - the notions of natural and divine law; while it may seem a small point, he really succeeded in bringing back into vogue the platonic notion that there were "ideal" forms - of which the law of God is surely one. Be that as it may (and it is rather confusing in many respects) Aquinas also brought into popularity the notion of positive law having a valence that was independent of whether or not it was under-girded by natural or divine law; in this regard, he may well have set the stage for the totalitarian excesses of the future (though that point should not be exaggerated or used to smear him). In any case, St. Thomas of Aquinas brought Aristotelian logic to the study of law and philosophy and may well have laid the foundation for modern legal positivism.

From the Paper
St. Thomas of Aquinas' Contribution to the Philosophy of Law The following paper will look at Aquinas' contribution to the modern-day philosophy of law. As much as anything, Aquinas may be credited with bringing Aristotelian logic to the philosophical exploration of the law. Beyond that, Aristotle articulated - for medieval audiences - the notions of natural and divine law; while it may seem a small point, he really succeeded in bringing back into vogue the platonic notion that there were "ideal" forms - of which the law of God is surely one. Be that as it may (and it is rather confusing in many respects) Aquinas also brought into popularity the notion of positive law having a valence that was

Tags:aquinas, philosophy, law

Abstract
The paper applies some of Ovid's specific stories to Boethius' ideals as communicated through Consolation of Philosophy. The paper shows how overall, Boethius' thoughts in his Consolation of Philosophy can be seen in two specific episodes in Ovid's "The Metamorphoses": the story of Apollo and Daphne in book 1, and that of Echo in book 3.

From the Paper
"Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethus, a Roman Christian philosopher who lived around the 6th Century, wrote Consolation of Philosophy in the year AD 524. Boethus wrote the work while imprisoned, awaiting trial for treason, punishable by death. This was under the gothic King Theodoric the Great, at the very height of Boethius' power and popularity. Because of the reflective nature of Consolation of Philosophy, we can apply it to Ovid's masterwork, Metamorphoses, which deals with the world's conception and later, it's history. Some of Ovid's specific stories reflect and..."

Tags:boethius, ovid, medieval

Abstract
This paper discusses the conflux of medieval ideas and institutions with the resurrection of Greek and Roman philosophy in the period between 1350 to 1600, that is known as the Renaissance. The writer describes how the church of England, while undergoing constant reformation, still dominated all walks of life and continued to mete out violent punishment for sedition and sectarianism. The writer then cites examples from Shakespeare's "Henry V" and "Macbeth" that show the prevalence of superstition in Elizabethan England. The paper concludes that even today, with the highly technological and vast knowledge we possess, remnants can be found of medieval superstitions and ideas about religion.

From the Paper
"However, going back to the old ways, one can see how the attitudes intermingled with what should have been the birth of the new. In the arts, which the Renaissance had practically resurrected, Christian and pagan themes were irreverently blended, causing people of that era to be unable to distinguish what was the "new Christian" way or the "old pagan medieval" way. For example, bas reliefs displayed Adam of the Bible and Hercules of mythology in alternate scenes. Then, pagan heroes like Jason complimented Biblical heroes like Gideon. Alongside each other would be shown Christian portrayals of the Crucifixion, The Nativity and others, along with Jupiter (featured as a monk), Apollo, Venus, Mercury, Diana, Mars, Narcissus and Saturn with Centaurs and other, well-known pagan figures."

Abstract
The paper examines the works and life accomplishments of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). Hildegard was a notable medieval Christian Abbess and founder of the convent at Rupertsberg. The author discusses her contributions to philosophy, theology and science.

From the Paper
"Many of the works of Hildegard stand as examples of primitive attempts to derive a rational explanation for the world in which she lived. She strove to provide a coherent philosophy of the material universe within the context of the Middle Ages. Her life was a time when matters of science, philosophy and theology were thought of as inexorably interdependent. Although her conclusions may appear grotesquely incorrect in comparison to modern standards, we must be careful not to underestimate her intellectual merits. There is great beauty and power to be found within her ecstatic mystical works, despite the absence of any modern scientific foundation."

Tags:ages, benedictine, christian, convent, german, medieval, middle, monastery, woman

Abstract
This paper discusses how there was great development of ideologies that helped flourish European civilization during the Renaissance. The writer looks closely at two important ideologies that helped promote significant political, economic, and scientific revolutions in the continent for the next centuries. These two important ideologies are individualism and objectivity. It explains how the first ideology helped improve the state of natural philosophy and culture of Europe, while the latter helped develop the pursuit for science and empiricism.

From the Paper
"Individualism and objectivity have become the ideology of human society for the last seven centuries. True to Burckhardt's claim in 1860 that the Renaissance is the "birth of the modern world", these two ideologies have reigned superior in every aspect of human life, even influencing the life that we lead at present, now that human society is in the Information Age. Individualism and objectivity are directly linked with each other, where the occurrence of the former ultimately leads to the development of the latter. The texts that follow provide illustrations that show how individualism helped celebrate human society's culture and objectivity, the development of an empirical and scientific human society."

Tags:empiricism, philosophy, revolution

Abstract
This paper asserts that "Troilus and Criseyde" by Geoffrey Chaucer is a treatise on Boethian philosophy more than an epic romance. The narrator is treated as a character whose purpose is to emphasize the deterioration of the poetic structure by displacing the audience, even as the hero simultaneously contends with his own emotional conflict and ultimate demise.

From the Paper
"Because Pandarus is created in Chaucer's own image (Waswo 10), he serves a pivotal role as a vehicle for Chaucerian irony in the narration scheme itself. Pandarus embodies the pacing of the narration and the emotion of the narrator himself. Both Pandarus and the narrator claim that their actions are fueled by compassion for the lovers, yet they both exhibit bizarre personal gratification in the services they perform. Some critics have even observed how the narrator "participates with delight in Pandarus' machinations to bring the lovers together. In Books II and III, as Pandarus dashes from place to place arranging the lovers' meetings, the narration itself speeds up" (Waswo 10)."

Tags:literature, medieval, Pandarus