Faith and Reason in Stephen Langton (†1228) and Some of His Contemporaries

This article discusses an early scholastic question whether knowing something is compatible with believing it. The main authors taken into consideration are Stephen Langton, Praepositinus of Cremona, Geoffrey of Poitiers, and William of Auxerre. They assess the possiblity of proving the existence of God by natural means, evaluate the certainty and reliability of faith in comparison to philosoph- ical knowledge, and speculate whether finding rational evidence for an article of faith would hinder one’s salvation. These controversies help to determine the degree of cognitive optimism of each of the authors and reveal their attitude to natural reason. The study includes an analysis of Langton’s basic terminological distinctions concerning faith, knowledge, and understanding. It concludes with a critical edition of his theological question Vtrum fides sit de non apparentibus tantum.