Resumo de ?reason And Society In The Middle Ages?

?Reason and Society in the Middle Ages?, is the first book written by Oxford university?s retired historian and teacher ?Alexander Murray. Published in 1978; it has been described as ?an astounding synthesis of insights?
Stirred by the appalling lack of reason in the 2nd world war, Murray began to study how reason manifested itself from the 11th century onwards. His book can thus be described as a social history of reason.
The historical backdrop?
Although the medieval times are known as the ?Age of Faith? and the 17th century onwards as the ?Age of Reason?, the seeds of the latter were really sown during the 11th and 12th centuries in western Europe, when the fascination for the use of ?reason? instead of ?blind faith? as advocated by the church, became apparent.
This transition from ?faith? to ?reason? is not really surprising when we consider that the ?Renaissance? was an intellectual movement that brought a revival of Greek and Roman culture. The ancient Greeks as we know, were the first civilization to use reason to think systematically about the world around them.
The rich merchants, who lived along the trade routes in Italian cities and were the patrons of the Renaissance, mainly encouraged its use. The university curricula?s of the day also mirrored this fascination for reason by featuring its study in most of the courses offered for study in colleges of the time. Side by side with this, argues Murray came the tendency for society to apply the use of reason in all its sub-systems-from economics to politics.
Dark ages became enlightened?
The increased application of reason was a captivating development in an age where, knowledge for the sake of knowledge, was frowned upon and Copernicus and Galileo had not so long ago, had their powers of reason dampened severely by the church. (Till then all social sub-systems were subservient to religion and ruled by the iron hand of Rome. Those who leant towards any kind of freethinking had met with a rather uncomfortable end- by being burnt as heretics during the inquisition.)
All this happened in the ?dark ages? marked by the lack of education and increased warfare. This meant that till then, the average ?serf? was completely dependent on his feudal lord who dictated what and how the medieval man must think-which was to think not at all. But the rich and liberated merchants in the cities, empowered by wealth, thought differently -and things began look up.
Examining reason at this time in its broadest social scale, Murray asks himself-
?What distinct psychological or social conditions urged man to think rationally about nature?? To do this he approached western European medieval society in dynamic, rather than static terms, through social mobility.
Murray?s observations?
In his book Murray focuses on the two key manifestations of the growing rationalistic tradition of the time-namely mathematics and the broader view of rationality as found in literary education.
Against this backdrop- Murray takes the broad-minded approach to reason by studying its increased use over 250 years, between the late 11th to the early 14th centuries. Divided into three sections, his book examines the use of reason by different aspects of society at the time:
In the first section he examines the emergence of the moneyed economy from the 9th to the 12th century; through the increased use of maths and coins. As a result, he argues, avarice became the dominating force of the day, giving rise to merchants, Jews and robbers.
In the second part, Murray examines the use of reason in politics in a chapter titled ?Reason and Power? He highlights that the mind at this time was like a weapon used to subdue the environment- through technology; magic and astrology. As a result, Murray finds the nobility of the time viewed the learning and application of reason as a path for ?Upward mobility?
In the final section of the book Murray examines ascetic monasticism that was built on a non-rationalistictradition. Since this tradition was essentially otherworldly in its outlook- (seeing mankind as a fallen sinner who had to give up the material pitfalls of this world to reach heaven)-the application of reason to better man?s lot in this world was frowned upon.
A Critique?
Although enlightening and interesting, Murray?s book has been criticized for focusing more on the social uses of reason rather than discussing its cataclysmic reaction on faith and religion. His critics feel he subsequently overlooks the impact of reason, as it shaped the scientific method, based on observation and proof -rather then blind faith.
By taking too broad a definition of reason say his critics, and linking it to the increased application of math?s, astrology and magic- Murray fails to distinguish how the use of reason in medieval Europe differed from its usage in Mesopotamia and the Arab Islamic cultures- that also delved extensively into maths and astrology. Perhaps Murray could have clarified on this point a little more.

Some Reviews?

"At each stage in the argument there are fascinating discussions?even the most experienced teacher of medieval history can learn some new information..."--The History Teacher
"Full of entertaining anecdote and fresh speculation on many aspects of medieval history...[A] rich and enjoyable book."--History: Reviews of New Books
"A skillful mesh of evidence and speculation? Above all, it is relevant to a broader understanding of the mutual impact between society and learning in the Middle Ages."--Isis

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