Ethics of the Middle Ages

Christian ethics
Birth of Christianity - I century A.D.
- Jesus Christ
- written in the works of St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, etc.
- “among other religions only Christianity state perfectness of God together with human beings”
Blessing – the main moral principle of Christian morality
Christianity:
Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy

Medieval period
Theo centrism
Creationism
Instead of dialectics – dualism;
God – infinite, independent and eternal
How can we know the truth? Belief and religion
Struggle of good and evil

Medieval period
Absolute person is God
Anthropomorphism
A future life;
Present life is transitional
Christians belong to the future life;
Body and pleasures are he chains for soul
Not apathy, grief, pessimism – but peace

Medieval period
Divine sadness: death for pleasures and hope for Heavens;
Sufferings;
* “poverty of souls”

Christian ethics:
Makes emphasis on:
Moral problems and human values
Accuse lies, theft, infidelity and other human sins.
Praying to God and following the words of God
“Pursuit of God is at the same time pursuit of yourself, your humanity.”

Saint Augustine: 354 – 430 A. C.

Saint Augustine
Born in North Africa 354 A.C.
Converted: he became a Christian when he was 33
He was a bishop
Major writings: “The Confessions” and “The City of God”

Moral experience of the Middle Age
The major question of ethics:
The question of criteria for Good and Evil, about appearance of difference and valuation of these terms
St. Augustine:
Treaty: “City of God”
Soul and Body
- soul controls body
Human being has to follow God’s word

Saint Augustine
A new authority: Revelation
The relationship between faith and reason
From “Credo quia absurdum” - I believe because it is absurd (human logic cannot understand the Divine reason)
To “Credo ut intelligam” I believe because I want to understand

Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274)

Moral experience of the Middle Age
Thomas Aquinas:
“the highest human blessing that can ever exist is union with God.”
Human virtues are separated on the following categories:
Spiritual
Moral
Theological