12th century in philosophy
This is a list of philosophy-related events in the 12th century. Philosophy at the time was influenced by the ongoing crusades.[1]
Events
c. 1114 – The School of Chartres flourishes as a center of Platonism and natural philosophy under masters like Bernard of Chartres and William of Conches.[2]
1122 – The Concordat of Worms resolves the Investiture Controversy, distinguishing spiritual and temporal authority and influencing philosophical debates on church-state relations.[3]
Mid-12th century – The Latin translation movement peaks, with key works of Aristotle, Avicenna, and Averroes translated in Toledo and Sicily, revitalizing Western philosophy.[4]
1141 – At the Council of Sens, Peter Abelard's theological writings are condemned for heresy by Bernard of Clairvaux, highlighting tensions between dialectic and orthodoxy.[5]
c. 1150 – The University of Paris emerges as a major center for philosophy and theology, fostering scholastic methods.[6]
c. 1167 – The University of Oxford emerges, becoming another hub for philosophical inquiry in England.[7]
Publications
- The Incoherence of the Incoherence, the landmark harmonization of philosophy and faith by Averroes
- Sic et Non, Peter Abelard's scholastic study of apparent contradictions in Christian theology
Births
- Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), Persian theologian and philosopher who critiqued philosophy in The Incoherence of the Philosophers.
- Gilbert of Poitiers (c. 1080–1154), French scholastic philosopher known for his metaphysical commentaries on Boethius.
- William of Conches (c. 1090–1154), French natural philosopher and Platonist associated with the School of Chartres.
- Ibn Tufayl (c. 1105–1185), Andalusian polymath and author of Hayy ibn Yaqdhan.
- Averroes (1126–1198), Andalusian polymath and Aristotelian commentator.
- Zhu Xi (1130–1200), Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher of the Song dynasty.
- Maimonides (1135 or 1138–1204), Sephardic Jewish philosopher, astronomer, and physician.
Deaths
- Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), Persian polymath whose works bridged Sufism and philosophy.[8]
- Peter Abelard (1079–1142), French scholastic philosopher, theologian, and logician.[9]
- Gilbert of Poitiers (c. 1080–1154), French philosopher and Bishop of Poitiers.
- William of Conches (c. 1090–after 1155), French natural philosopher.
- Ibn Tufayl (c. 1105–1185), Andalusian philosopher and physician.
- Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), German Benedictine abbess, visionary mystic, and polymath.[10]
- Averroes (1126–1198), Andalusian polymath.
See also
References
- Peter Dronke (ed). A History of Twelfth-Century Western Philosophy. Cambridge University Press. 1988.
- Frederick Denison Maurice. Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy. Macmillan and Co. London. 1873. Volume 1 (Ancient philosophy and the first to the thirteenth centuries). Chapter 4 ("Twelfth Century"). Page 534 et seq.
- ^ Ancient philosophy and the first to the thirteenth centuries. v. 2. 14 th century to the French revolution, with a glimpse into the 19 th century. Macmillan. 1873. p. 534. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Medieval Philosophy". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Concordat of Worms". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Medieval Philosophy: The Twelfth-Century Parisian Schools". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Peter Abelard". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Universities of Paris I–XIII". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Medieval Philosophy: The Twelfth-Century Parisian Schools". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Al-Ghazali". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Peter Abelard". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ Bennett, Judith M. and Hollister, Warren C. Medieval Europe: A Short History (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001), p. 317.