Nov. 8: The Rise of the Medieval University

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Nov. 8 The Rise of the Medieval University
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Background to Universities

• 9th-13th centuries population explosion
• Primogeniture
• Earlier schools monastery schools, cathedral
  schools, private tutors/schools

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• I will not speak of those logicians before whose
  eves flitted constantly the lice of Egypt, that
  is to say, all the sophistical subtleties, so
  that no one could comprehend their eloquent
  discourses in which, as says Isaiah, there is no
  wisdom. As to the doctors of theology, seated,
  in Moses' seat, they were swollen with learning,
  but their charity was not edifying. Teaching and
  not practicing, they have become as sounding
  brass or a tinkling cymbal, or like a canal of
  stone, always dry, which ought to carry water to
  the bed of spices. They not only hated one
  another, but by their flatteries they enticed
  away the students of others each one seeking his
  own glory, but caring not a whit about the
  welfare of souls.
• - Jacques de Vitry, 13th century

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Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

• Thus it came about that my teaching won such
  strength and authority that even those who before
  had clung most vehemently to my former master,
  and most bitterly attacked my doctrines, now
  flocked to my school.

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Birth of Universities

• Founded on guild principle
• University group of organized workers. Denotes
  totality of the group.
• Mobile universities own no buildings and are
  not tied to locations.

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Paris

• University of Masters
• Charter granted 1200, organized 1150-70
• Known for theology

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Bologna

• Officially organized in 1200 actually organized
  1150
• Known for Law
• University of Students
• Defense against townspeople
• Defense against their other enemies, the
  professors

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The Professor Must...

• Not be absent without leave
• Be able to attract more than 5 students
• Begin with the bell and end with the bell
• Not skip chapters of commentary
• Not postpone difficulties until the end of the
  hour
• Cover ground systematically and completely

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Other Universities

• Oxford 1220
• Salerno 1231, known for medicine (but it was a
  center for medical learning before then)
• Size of universities 200-800
• Biggest 2,500.
• 1200 universities have become intellectual
  centers of Europe

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Student Life
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• I, a wandering scholar lad,
• Born for toil and sadness,
• Oftentimes am driven by
• Poverty to madness.
• These torn clothes that cover me
• Are too thin and rotten
• Oft I have to suffer cold,
• By the warmth forgotten

• Bibit hera, bibit herus,
• Bibit miles, bibit clerus,
• Bibit ille, bibit illa,
• Bibit serrus cum ancilla,
• Bibit velox, bibit piger,
• Bibit albus, bibit niger,
• Bibit constans, bibit vagus,
• Bibit rudis, bibit magus.

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Curriculum

• B.A. liberal arts 3 philosophies. 4 yrs.
• Emphasis on grammar declines emphasis on logic
  increases
• M.A. emphasis on 3 philosophies. 2 yrs.
• Medicine 5-6 yrs.
• Law 7-8 yrs.
• Theology 8-16 yrs.

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The Liberal Arts
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Natural Philosophy
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The Ancients in Medieval Schools

• Plato 11th and 12th centuries. Mostly Timaeus
• Aristotle late 12th-13th centuries. Especially
  logic, natural philosophy
• - Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus (Albert the
  Great)

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Thomas Aquinas (1224-74)

• Goal is to reconcile philosophy and especially
  Aristotle with theology
• Philosophy handmaiden to theology

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Scholastic Humanism

• Scholasticism attempt to collect and assimilate
  all knowledge. Very optimistic
• Humanism affirmation of human reason.
• Even though the natural light of the human mind
  is inadequate to make known what is revealed by
  faith, nevertheless what is divinely taught to
  us by faith cannot be contrary to what we are
  endowed with by nature. One or the other would
  have to be false, and since we have both or them
  from God, He would be the cause of our error,
  which is impossible.
• - Thomas Aquinas

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Disputation method much simplified

• Q Whether the Earth is round?
• Objection 1 We would fall off
• Objection 2 It appears to be flat
• Reply 1 Gravity
• Reply 2 Its really big.
• Q Resolved The Earth is round.

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Impact on European Life

1. Recovery of lost knowledge
2. Provides educated and literate bureaucrats for
   courts
3. Textual communities that are able to discuss
   questions across geographical and chronological
   boundaries
4. Intellectual freedom compare to Islam