Why Study Medieval Philosophy?

Abstract

The study examines why medieval philosophy should be studied. The first chapter deals with the justifications for studying what I shall label ‘antiquated philosophy’ of any sort. ‘Antiquated philosophy’ certainly includes the texts usually labelled as medieval philosophy, and so Part I provides a justification for why they should be studied; but there is a particular characteristic - their frequent connection with revealed religion- which might be used either to provide a different, special justification for studying them, or, by contrast, a reason for thinking that the medieval material should be excluded from the general justification. These two possibilities are the theme of Part II.