12th century in philosophy

This is a list of philosophy-related events in the 12th century . Philosophy at the time was influenced by the ongoing crusades. ^[1]

Events

c. 1114 – The School of Chartres flourishes as a center of Platonism and natural philosophy under masters like Bernard of Chartres and William of Conches. ^[2]

1122 – The Concordat of Worms resolves the Investiture Controversy, distinguishing spiritual and temporal authority and influencing philosophical debates on church-state relations. ^[3]

Mid-12th century – The Latin translation movement peaks, with key works of Aristotle, Avicenna, and Averroes translated in Toledo and Sicily, revitalizing Western philosophy. ^[4]

1141 – At the Council of Sens, Peter Abelard's theological writings are condemned for heresy by Bernard of Clairvaux, highlighting tensions between dialectic and orthodoxy. ^[5]

c. 1150 – The University of Paris emerges as a major center for philosophy and theology, fostering scholastic methods. ^[6]

c. 1167 – The University of Oxford emerges, becoming another hub for philosophical inquiry in England. ^[7]

Publications

• The Incoherence of the Incoherence, the landmark harmonization of philosophy and faith by Averroes
• Sic et Non, Peter Abelard's scholastic study of apparent contradictions in Christian theology

Births

• Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), Persian theologian and philosopher who critiqued philosophy in The Incoherence of the Philosophers.
• Gilbert of Poitiers (c. 1080–1154), French scholastic philosopher known for his metaphysical commentaries on Boethius.
• William of Conches (c. 1090–1154), French natural philosopher and Platonist associated with the School of Chartres.
• Ibn Tufayl (c. 1105–1185), Andalusian polymath and author of Hayy ibn Yaqdhan.
• Averroes (1126–1198), Andalusian polymath and Aristotelian commentator.
• Zhu Xi (1130–1200), Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher of the Song dynasty.
• Maimonides (1135 or 1138–1204), Sephardic Jewish philosopher, astronomer, and physician.

Deaths

• Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), Persian polymath whose works bridged Sufism and philosophy. ^[8]
• Peter Abelard (1079–1142), French scholastic philosopher, theologian, and logician. ^[9]
• Gilbert of Poitiers (c. 1080–1154), French philosopher and Bishop of Poitiers.
• William of Conches (c. 1090–after 1155), French natural philosopher.
• Ibn Tufayl (c. 1105–1185), Andalusian philosopher and physician.
• Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), German Benedictine abbess, visionary mystic, and polymath. ^[10]
• Averroes (1126–1198), Andalusian polymath.

See also

• 12th-century Renaissance
• Medieval philosophy
• List of centuries in philosophy

References

• Peter Dronke (ed). A History of Twelfth-Century Western Philosophy. Cambridge University Press. 1988.
• Frederick Denison Maurice. Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy. Macmillan and Co. London. 1873. Volume 1 (Ancient philosophy and the first to the thirteenth centuries). Chapter 4 ("Twelfth Century"). Page 534 et seq.

1. Ancient philosophy and the first to the thirteenth centuries. v. 2. 14 th century to the French revolution, with a glimpse into the 19 th century. Macmillan. 1873. p. 534. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
2. "Medieval Philosophy". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
3. "Concordat of Worms". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
4. "Medieval Philosophy: The Twelfth-Century Parisian Schools". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
5. "Peter Abelard". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
6. "Universities of Paris I–XIII". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
7. "Medieval Philosophy: The Twelfth-Century Parisian Schools". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
8. "Al-Ghazali". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
9. "Peter Abelard". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
10. Bennett, Judith M. and Hollister, Warren C. Medieval Europe: A Short History (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001), p. 317.