Confocal microscope image of embryonic mouse forepaw

Book review: God’s Philosophers

Jose Saldanha and Alessandro Pandini

God’s Philosophers presents historical evidence aimed at correcting our misconceptions about the Medieval era. The book is interesting particularly as this period is otherwise poorly documented. When we think of the so-called 'Dark Ages' we tend to conjure up visions of an unenlightened time when there was conflict between science and religion, with the Church holding back scientific progress. Some myths about that time prevail, for instance that people were burnt at the stake for scientific ideas or that the Church supported the idea that the earth is flat. In reality, however, the middle ages laid the foundations for modern science. James Hannam, who has a physics degree from the University of Oxford and a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge, argues in this informative and engaging book that the Middle Ages were a period of great technological change and cultural advance.

The Church founded universities in the 12th century where the subject of theology encouraged the study of the natural world because it was God’s creation. The Church supported natural philosophy (science), as long as the philosophical speculations did not impinge on theology. This was beneficial since it kept science focused on nature, instead of metaphysics.

In his conclusion Hannam suggests: “It would be wrong to romanticise the period and we should be very grateful that we do not have to live in it. But the hard life that people had to bear only makes their progress in science and many other fields all the more impressive. We should not write them off as superstitious primitives.”

The book is written in a humorous tone, with sections suitable for bedtime reading; but as it was based on the author’s doctoral research, it includes extensive academic references to back its claims.

God’s Philosophers: How the Medieval World Laid the Foundations of Modern Science by James Hannam is published by Icon Books, 2009.

This essay was published in the Mill Hill Essays 2010

ISBN: 978-0-9546302-8-9

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