Study Of Western European Medieval Scholasticism

European civilization can date back to the ancient time of Greece. At that time, the Greek philosophers constructed an immense philosophical system by searching the nature of the political and social structure of polis. The ancient Greek philosophy was featured with naturalism, mysticism and rationalism. Hence these three characters formed the layer of scholasticism in the middle ages. In the early stage of Christianity, the patricians inherited the essence of Greek philosophy accompanied with the methodology of it, and reconciled it with the theology of Christianity, thus the trandition of Greek philosophy found its carrier in Christian theology, at the same time, it provided methodology for the development of dogmatics.The alliance of temporal power and ecclesial power in Carolingian time enhanced the political function of Christianity, and made it not only a faith, but a dominant political theory. In order to strengthen the centralization of the empire, Charlemagne underwent the schooling reformation by which monastic schools were instituted, books were rediscovered and copied, libraries were constructed and the writing of Latin was reformed. As the result, the Carolingian Empire acquired the prosperity of culture which was named the Carolingian Renaissance. The Renaissance set up layer of modern European culture and was well prepared for the coming of the 12^th century Renaissance and the birth of Scholasticism.The direct cause for the emergence of Scholasticism was the struggle between the temporal power and the ecclesial power. The alliance of these two powers at Frankish Kingdom made the duality of political institution came into being in the Medieval Europe. The growth of the two powers led to conflict and conditionality between them. Both powers felt the urge to develop their own legitimated political theory to testify each itself the highest power in the Christian world. To answer the demand revived the ancient Greek philosophy and gave birth to Scholasticism. Scholasticism thereby was closely related to, and also the reflection of the process of the struggle between secular power and Church. The medieval universities, which appeared at the 12^th century provided Scholasticism with place and institution which assured its development in a free and institutional atmosphere. With the auxiliary of universities, Scholasticism stepped towards the separation between faith and ration, and the scholastics employed the methodology of scholasticism on the research of natural philosophy.As the unique outcome of Western institution in the middle ages, Scholasticism at one hand was affected by the political, economic and social development at that time, and at the other hand promoted the 12^th century Renaissance which was featured with rationalism, and positively influenced the emergence of modern science methodologically. The theme of this thesis is to make comment on the historical influence and function of Scholasticism and its methodology.