Medieval Religious Rationalities
A Weberian Analysis

A groundbreaking study applying Weberian theories of rationality to medieval social, cultural and religious values and structures.

D. L. d'Avray (Author)

9780521186827, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 23 September 2010

208 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 1 cm, 0.34 kg

'Unlike those historians who prefer to remain the prisoner of theories which are held unconsciously, David d'Avray's aim … is to engage explicitly with the 'ideal types' of rationality catalogued in Max Weber's work in order to show their empirical value in the study of the religion of the medieval West … constitute[s] a model of how historians can engage with social theory … clearly and wittily written and resort[s] to technical jargon in order to clarify the argument rather than to obscure it … logically structured and address[es] issues which are of interest not just to medievalists but also to historians of other periods, as well as to philosophers, anthropologists, sociologists and social theorists … draw[s] effortlessly on an impressive range of empirical examples and [is] the product of wide reading in philosophy and social science.' S. H. Rigby, English Historical Review

Inspired by the social theories of Max Weber, David d'Avray asks in what senses medieval religion was rational and, in doing so, proposes a new approach to the study of the medieval past. Applying ideas developed in his companion volume on Rationalities in History, he explores how values, instrumental calculation, legal formality and substantive rationality interact and the ways in which medieval beliefs were strengthened by their mutual connections, by experience, and by mental images. He sheds new light on key themes and figures in medieval religion ranging from conversion, miracles and the ideas of Bernard of Clairvaux to Trinitarianism, papal government and Francis of Assisi's charismatic authority. This book shows how values and instrumental calculation affect each other in practice and demonstrates the ways in which the application of social theory can be used to generate fresh empirical research as well as new interpretative insights.

1. Preliminaries
2. Medieval values: structures
3. Medieval values: dynamics
4. The value-instrumental interface in the Middle Ages
5. Formal rationality and medieval religious law
6. The formal-substantive interface and the dispensation system
General conclusion.

Subject Areas: Sociology [JHB], Religion: general [HRA], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD]