Intellectuals in the Middle Ages by Jacques Le Goff

The Middle Ages have traditionally been seen by historians as a period of intellectual dullness; however, the French historian Jacques Le Goff argued in his book Intellectuals in the Middle Ages that the medieval period was home to an array of sophisticated intellectuals.

Le Goff argued in the book that the Church was the main institution or ‘magistrate’ of learning during the Middle Ages, and he focuses his exploration of medieval intellectuals on this institution. He argues that the Church produced a great deal of influential theological, legal and literary work, and in this way was a major contributor to scholarship in the period.

Le Goff identifies three main categories of medieval intellectuals: theologians, teachers and preachers. He describes theologians as ‘the elite of the Church’, noting the development of the school of theological thought known as Scholasticism. He suggests that this helped to spark an intellectual revival in the Middle Ages and paved the way for advances in critical thought in the period.

Le Goff makes the argument that teaching and preaching were two of the strongest outlets for intellectual expression in the Middle Ages. He cites a range of figures who promulgated knowledge, such as St. Augustine and Peter Abelard, and he describes the way in which they used rhetoric, logic and philosophy to their advantage. In this way, he argues that teachers and preachers enabled a greater spread of knowledge than would have been possible without them.

Le Goff also highlights the role of mystics in medieval intellectual life. He suggests they enabled people to gain access to an alternative form of knowledge to the one provided by the Church. He suggests that mystics were able to provide answers to metaphysical questions and to explore ideas about the supernatural.

Le Goff shows that the Middle Ages were far from the dark period of intellectual stagnation that some historians have painted. Rather, intellectuals in the period displayed great sophistication, creativity and innovation. Through a rigorous examination of the contributions of theologians, teachers, preachers and mystics, and thought-provoking analysis of the Church’s role, Le Goff provides the reader with a vivid and compelling account of the intellectual life of the Middle Ages.

From the work of Le Goff, it is clear that the Middle Ages produced a substantial range of intellectual diversity and expression. His book sheds light on the significant contributions of individuals and institutions in the period, and provides a valuable resource for anyone wishing to gain a fuller understanding of the intellectual life of the Middle Ages.