At the Frontiers of Scholasticism

For centuries, the medieval era has been caricatured as a time of intellectual stagnation, a dark age awaiting the Renaissance and secular Enlightenment. In At the Frontiers of Scholasticism, Giovanni Patriarca shatters this myth, offering a profound reappraisal of the roots of the modern world. Patriarca's meticulous scholarship reveals how the dynamic intellectual ferment of the Middle Ages laid the groundwork for modern science and economic reasoning. By harmonizing faith with reason, scholastic thinkers in Europe's universities applied rigorous logic to both the natural world and human action. The result was a vibrant era of discovery that birthed mathematical advances, pioneering physics, and revolutionary monetary theories. Engaging and authoritative, this collection invites readers to explore the fruitful intersection of theology, law, and commerce. Patriarca not only deepens our understanding of scientific advancement but illuminates a pivotal moment in the development of Western Civilization. "The roots of modern economic thought are not to be found in the secular Enlightenment or even in the Scottish Enlightenment but rather in this scholastic search for truth... Patriarca provides data and detail on how these scholars sought to grasp the totality of truth in all its dimensions." John C. Pinheiro Director of Research, Acton Institute