The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of ReasonA radical and powerful reappraisal of the impact of Constantine’s adoption of Christianity on the later Roman world, and on the subsequent development both of Christianity and of Western civilization. When the Emperor Contstantine converted to Christianity in 368 AD, he changed the course of European history in ways that continue to have repercussions to the present day. Adopting those aspects of the religion that suited his purposes, he turned Rome on a course from the relatively open, tolerant and pluralistic civilization of the Hellenistic world, towards a culture that was based on the rule of fixed authority, whether that of the Bible, or the writings of Ptolemy in astronomy and of Galen and Hippocrates in medicine. Only a thousand years later, with the advent of the Renaissance and the emergence of modern science, did Europe begin to free itself from the effects of Constantine's decision, yet the effects of his establishment of Christianity as a state religion remain with us, in many respects, today. Brilliantly wide-ranging and ambitious, this is a major work of history. |
Contents
| 3 | |
THE QUEST FOR VIRTUE | 26 |
ALEXANDER | 36 |
5 | 47 |
6 | 56 |
8 | 88 |
9 | 100 |
II | 154 |
16 | 233 |
18 | 258 |
THE EMERGENCE OF CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY IN | 271 |
19 | 287 |
WE HONOUR THE PRIVILEGE OF SILENCE WHICH IS WITHOUT | 307 |
20 | 316 |
THOMAS AQUINAS AND THE RESTORATION OF REASON | 323 |
Epilogue | 335 |
Other editions - View all
The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason Charles Freeman No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted Ambrose of Milan ancient appears Aquinas argued Arians Aristotle Arius ascetic asceticism Athanasius Athens Augustine Augustine's authority became believed bishop of Rome Cambridge century A.D. chap Chris Christ Christian communities Christian doctrine Christian Tradition church concept condemned Constantine Constantinople context council Creed cult death debate Diocletian divine Donatists early Christian earth emperor Eusebius faith Father fifth century fourth century G. E. R. Lloyd gods Gospels Greek Gregory Gregory of Nazianzus heretics History Homoean human Ibid imperial instance intellectual interpretation Jerome Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jews John John Chrysostom Judaism Late Antiquity later letters logos London nature Nicene Nicene Creed original orthodox Oxford pagan Paul Paul's Pelikan philosophy Plato Plotinus political pro-Nicene Quoted rational thought reason religion rhetoric role Roman Empire scriptures seen sexual soul spiritual status stress suggests survived Temple Testament texts Theodosius theologians theology tian tion truth virginity western words