#david lindberg

David Lindberg, Inorganic Landscapes

...Medieval natural philosophy as a collection of theories was not uniform or monolithic; as an activity, its pursuit was as varied as the scholars who pursued it. The relations between medieval natural philosophy [science] and medieval Christianity, therefore, varied radically over time, from place to place, from one scholar to another, and with regard to different issues, and it will never be possible to characterize those relations in a catchy slogan, such as that old standby, "the warfare of science and theology".

In Augustine's view, then, knowledge of the things of this world is not a legitimate end in itself, but, as a means to other ends, it is indispensable. Natural philosophy [science] must accept a subordinate position as the handmaiden of theology and religion: The temporal must be made to serve the eternal. Natural philosophy is not to be loved, but it may be legitimately used. This attitude toward scientific knowledge was to flourish throughout the Middle Ages and well into the modern period.

David Lindberg - Manual to Manual