Why was philosophy virtually nonexistent during the dark ages?

Question

Andrew- After Rome...

Answer 1

um...this isn't true...

Answer 2

Well, I guess you should know history beofre you ask these questions. What would you consider to be the "Dark Ages"? Enlightenment thinkers thought that philosophy and knowledge had departed the world after the fall of the Rome. Recent historians have placed the "dark ages" from 500-1000. So which do you mean?

By the way, Hegel is wrong about Descartes resurrecting philosophy. Descartes depended upon and was schooled in the philosophy of William of Ockham and other nominalist philosophers.

Answer 3

Fear formed in one shape or an other in the specific context of the time. Philosophy is virtually non-existent in most people all of the time.

Some interesting reading: Hegel’s Lectures on the History of Philosophy

Section Two: Period of the Thinking Understanding
Chapter I. — The Metaphysics of the Understanding
A 1. DESCARTES.
René Descartes is a bold spirit who re-commenced the whole subject from the very beginning and constituted afresh the groundwork on which Philosophy is based, and to which, after a thousand years had passed, it once more returned. The extent of the influence which this man exercised upon his times and the culture of Philosophy generally, cannot be sufficiently expressed; it rests mainly in his setting aside all former pre-suppositions and beginning in a free, simple, and likewise popular way, with popular modes of thought and quite simple propositions, in his leading to thought and extension or Being, and so to speak setting up this before thought as its opposite.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/hp/hpdescar.htm

Answer 4

Because people were extremely poor, starving and needy. Most of society was more concerned about getting throught the day. There was no time or energy for philosophy or religion. Imagine trying to survive in a straw hut, with ten siblings, a pig and three chickens. Your parents live off pulling rocks out of the mud where people want to plant crops. The religious people of the day are barbecueing women for entertainment and the rulers think it's wise to get rid of all the poor people.

Answer 5

Philosophy wasn't completely nonexistent, but it did undergo a serious decline. One of the reasons was Christianity. Philosophy was viewed as a pagan occupation (remember, the Ancient Greeks, who were pagans [non-Christians] were at that time, considered with good reason to have been the world's pre-eminent philosophers). As well, Christianity at that time discouraged the search for knowledge--anything that didn't make someone more likely to attain salvation was considered to have been a waste of time.

Answer 6

It wasn't really nonexistant, it just wasn't very important to people's lives. There was death and famine and rape and murder and people were more concerned with surviving day-to-day than with higher thinking and wondering 'what's up there' and what the best way to go about things is. People were more focused on their lives, the lives of the people around them. Christianity was in a decline (when bad things happen, faith tends to waver,) so even the seemingly stable of beliefs was toppling at the time.

Answer 7

There have existed thinkers in every age. If one were to guage today, they'd say that while we have a lot of technology, intellectually and philosophically, we are in a dark age.

The majority of the human race never values philosphy unless there ermerges a comfortable middle class that can discuss it over coffee, then it has pop culture value. If there is no pop culture, as today it's reserved to a very elite class that no one can relate to, then it's percieved as one of those dreaded evil "Secret societies" that conspiracy theorists rage over, like they do today.

Answer 8

During the dark ages religion (Christianity) became the only accepted truth! no one could or dared to contradict any dogmas of faith! Under the penalty of torture and death!
So Philosophy, being one of the liberal art was forbidden!

Answer 9

There had to have been those who held the torch of knowledge and hope or we never would have come out into an enlightened era.

Love and Hope are eternal, Pandora

Answer 10

Hmmm. Well, [i'm infering from what i've been taught], i think that it was because they based everything on religion:why the sunsets, why it rains, etc, and people we afraid to challenge it.

Answer 11

Perhaps in Europe, but not in China, or Japan, or even Africa.