A Hidden Wisdom: Medieval Contemplatives on Self-Knowledge, Reason, Love, Persons, and Immortality

Medieval philosophy is often associated with university-based disputations, but scholastic debates were part of broader philosophical and theological discussions. A Hidden Wisdom highlights the Christian contemplative tradition from 1200 to 1500, which saw an increase in mystical and contemplative literature. The book focuses on five topics of interest to both scholastics and contemplatives, demonstrating the contributions of medieval women and the practical nature of this tradition. The treatment of topics and figures is meant to be representative, offering hooks for philosophers to connect their own interests to medieval contemplative philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Medieval philosophy is often associated with university-based debates and the authorities cited in those debates. However, in their own time, scholastic debates were just one part of a broader philosophical and theological discourse. A Hidden Wisdom seeks to shed light on another crucial aspect of these conversations: the Christian contemplative tradition.

The period from 1200 to 1500, in particular, witnessed a significant surge in the production and consumption of mystical and contemplative literature in the Christian West, encompassing both laypeople and religious scholars, women as well as men. A Hidden Wisdom specifically focuses on five topics of particular interest to both scholastics and contemplatives during this period: self-knowledge, reason and its limits, love and the will, persons, and immortality and the afterlife. By centering on these topics, the book aims to highlight the often overlooked contributions of medieval women and demonstrate how re-uniting scholasticism with its contemplative counterpart can provide a more accurate understanding of the scope of medieval Christian philosophy and theology.

The book's treatment of topics and figures is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive, serving as a tasting menu rather than a comprehensive study. The choice of topics offers a series of hooks for philosophers to connect their own interests to issues central to medieval contemplative philosophy, while also providing medievalists in other disciplines with a fresh lens through which to view these texts.

In conclusion, A Hidden Wisdom offers a valuable contribution to the study of medieval philosophy by exploring the overlooked Christian contemplative tradition and highlighting the contributions of medieval women. By re-uniting scholasticism with its contemplative counterpart, the book provides a more comprehensive understanding of medieval Christian philosophy and theology and sheds light on a deeply practical tradition that builds up and tears down, generates and deconstructs.

Dimension: 216 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198861683