| Unit name | Academic and Mystical Approaches to God |
|---|---|
| Unit code | AFACM1004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wei |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This option will examine the relationship between academic and mystical approaches to God from the late eleventh century to the late fourteenth century. A key issue will be whether the approaches were complementary or opposed. We will also consider the extent to which two different groups existed and whether different polemics were consciously developed at the time. The significance of the development of schools and universities will be assessed. We will analyse the different ways in which key authorities like Pseudo-Denys and Aristotle were handled. We will look at the dichotomy between faith and reason, and the dichotomy between knowledge and love. We will then ask how these dichotomies were handled in relation to each other. These issues will be explored through a study of the following authors: Anselm, Abelard, Bernard of Clairvaux, William of Saint-Thierry, Hildegard of Bingen, Hadewijch, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, Marguerite Porete, Eckhart and the Cloud Author. The texts may be studied in English, though Latin texts will also be available and should provide good practice.
