Medieval Thinking Was More Rational Than Believed, Scholar Argues

Professor Ayelet Even-Ezra of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem challenges common perceptions of medieval thought, arguing that it was far more rational and structured than often assumed. Her research, which began unexpectedly after she became a historian of medieval Christian Europe, focuses on the intellectual world of the era, revealing a deep engagement with logic and reason alongside faith.

Even-Ezra's work highlights the early universities, founded in the 13th century, as centers of "knowledge professionals" who meticulously documented their thoughts. These scholars, she explains, distinguished between different types of knowledge, including divine revelation, ecstatic experiences, and simple faith, contrasting them with the reasoned, mediated knowledge acquired through academic study. Her research delves into how these ideas shaped university life and the broader society, influencing ambitious popes, idealistic preachers, and career-driven young men.

Central to her findings is the prevalence of a specific thinking habit: the use of diagrams and "tree-like" structures to process information. These visual tools, found in thousands of student and teacher notes across various subjects like philosophy, law, medicine, and science, demonstrate that medieval individuals learned to think not just with words but also through writing and drawing. This method, she notes, was widespread and deeply integrated into the learning process.

Furthermore, Even-Ezra's current research explores another cognitive habit prevalent in late medieval Europe: the frequent practice of drawing analogies. This involved identifying similarities between seemingly disparate things, such as animal behavior and human relationships, or comparing historical epochs to monastic structures. These analogical comparisons were not confined to texts but were actively used in sermons, urban celebrations, and social gatherings, shaping the structure of knowledge and attitudes towards thinking.

Even-Ezra's forthcoming book will detail the spread of this analogical thinking from monasteries to cities, exploring why it was so popular and how it influenced European knowledge systems and intellectual culture. She admits that this constant engagement with analogies has now become a part of her own thinking process.