
Wonder and Skepticism in the Middle Ages
Keagan Brewer(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 12. December 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
236 pages
978-0-367-87280-9 (ISBN)
Description
Wonder and Skepticism in the Middle Ages explores the response by medieval society to tales of marvels and the supernatural, which ranged from firm belief to outright rejection, and asks why the believers believed, and why the skeptical disbelieved. Despite living in a world whose structures more often than not supported belief, there were still a great many who disbelieved, most notably scholastic philosophers who began a polemical programme against belief in marvels.
Keagan Brewer reevaluates the Middle Ages' reputation as an era of credulity by considering the evidence for incidences of marvels, miracles and the supernatural and demonstrating the reasons people did and did not believe in such things. Using an array of contemporary sources, he shows that medieval responders sought evidence in the commonality of a report, similarity of one event to another, theological explanations and from people with status to show that those who believed in marvels and miracles did so only because the wonders had passed evidentiary testing. In particular, he examines both emotional and rational reactions to wondrous phenomena, and why some were readily accepted and others rejected.
This book is an important contribution to the history of emotions and belief in the Middle Ages.
Keagan Brewer reevaluates the Middle Ages' reputation as an era of credulity by considering the evidence for incidences of marvels, miracles and the supernatural and demonstrating the reasons people did and did not believe in such things. Using an array of contemporary sources, he shows that medieval responders sought evidence in the commonality of a report, similarity of one event to another, theological explanations and from people with status to show that those who believed in marvels and miracles did so only because the wonders had passed evidentiary testing. In particular, he examines both emotional and rational reactions to wondrous phenomena, and why some were readily accepted and others rejected.
This book is an important contribution to the history of emotions and belief in the Middle Ages.
Reviews / Votes
"This is an intriguing study of marvels, miracles and wonder stories and the ways medieval people responded to them. Brewer integrates studies in neuroscience, modern social psychology, and reception theory to investigate how readers and listeners reacted to stories of wonder, and to show how their demands for proof contributed to the development of medieval skepticism."Kathleen Kamerick, University of Iowa, USA
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
383 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-87280-9 (9780367872809)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Keagan Brewer
Wonder and Skepticism in the Middle Ages
Book
02/2016
1st Edition
Routledge
€231.80
Shipment within 10-20 days

Keagan Brewer
Wonder and Skepticism in the Middle Ages
E-Book
01/2016
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download

Keagan Brewer
Wonder and Skepticism in the Middle Ages
E-Book
01/2016
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download
Person
Keagan Brewer is based at the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies at the University of Sydney. His previous publications include Prester John: the Legend and its Sources (2015).
Content
List of Figures Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Chapter 1 - Understanding Belief and Doubt in the Middle Ages Chapter 2 - What is Wonder? Contemporary and Medieval Views Chapter 3 - Wonder, Fear, Orality, and Community Chapter 4 - Wonder, Entertainment, and Fascination: Travel, Architecture, Objects Chapter 5 - The Marvels of Faith: Wonder and Christian Belief Chapter 6 - Towards a Medieval Epistemology: Evidentiary Frameworks Underpinning Belief in Marvels Chapter 7 - Sensory Experience, Experimentation, and Global Skepticism Chapter 8 - Three Stories, and Some Macro-Level Questions Bibliography Index