The Reconciliation of Reason and Faith in Gothic Period of Medieval Europe
By Zhenping Wang
Journal of Cambridge Studies, Volume 5, Number 4, 2010
Abstract: The term Gothic refers to a style of art and architecture and to the period of their development in Western Europe, which lasted from the middle of twelfth century into the fourteenth century in Italy and later in other European countries.
During the period, there appeared one conflict–reason verse faith. Some of the medieval thinkers, artists and literary writers tried to find ways to reconcile the conflict. The author in this paper applies the cultural expressions and traces of thought in Gothic architecture, Philosophical investigation and literary work, the interdisciplinary method to explore the truth of this historical moment.
The contrast between an exterior all intellect (reason) and an interior all spirit (faith) of the architectures of the Abbey of St. Denis and the Cathedral of Notre Dame vividly shows us this reconciliation of reason and faith. Aquinas’s natural law (philosophy) is knowable by finite human minds, while divine law (theology) is made known to human minds by God. Equipped with reason and faith, man can achieve the full knowledge of the universe. Guided by Virgil, the Human knowledge and reason, and by Beatrice, the Divine knowledge and faith, Dante finally receives God’s grace and love when his vision is improved and soul purified.
Click here to read this article from Apollo – the University of Cambridge Repository
Top Image: The choir of the Cathedral of Saint Just and Saint Pasteur. Over 40 meters high and the tallest Gothic cathedral in France. Photo D. Trynoski
The Reconciliation of Reason and Faith in Gothic Period of Medieval Europe
By Zhenping Wang
Journal of Cambridge Studies, Volume 5, Number 4, 2010
Abstract: The term Gothic refers to a style of art and architecture and to the period of their development in Western Europe, which lasted from the middle of twelfth century into the fourteenth century in Italy and later in other European countries.
During the period, there appeared one conflict–reason verse faith. Some of the medieval thinkers, artists and literary writers tried to find ways to reconcile the conflict. The author in this paper applies the cultural expressions and traces of thought in Gothic architecture, Philosophical investigation and literary work, the interdisciplinary method to explore the truth of this historical moment.
Click here to read this article from Apollo – the University of Cambridge Repository
Top Image: The choir of the Cathedral of Saint Just and Saint Pasteur. Over 40 meters high and the tallest Gothic cathedral in France. Photo D. Trynoski
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