Aesthetics and medieval thought: contours and pieces of a vast mosaic

Abstract

“Aesthetics” and “Middle Ages” denote indefinite fields of research. There is no univocal definition of “aesthetics” and, at the same time, the concept of “Middle Ages” results from a historiographical construct that encompasses authors from different backgrounds, cultures, and historical contexts. Still there are valid reasons to maintain that medieval thought is deeply grounded in an aesthetic view of reality. Despite their diverse cultural backgrounds and geographical origins, authors throughout the extended medieval period have two common elements: they acknowledge the key role of ancient philosophy and inhabit societies where monotheistic faith holds central importance. The study of “beauty” as a core concern of aesthetic studies typifies how these two factors converged and shaped medieval thinking. Although a brief introduction cannot comprehensively justify this assertion, the following pages sketch the contours that delimit the essays collected in the monographic section of the volume.