8/23 Blog post on Chaucer and Foltz Readings

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In reading the assigned passages, the first article I read was from “Medieval Philosophy” by Foltz. One excerpt in particular caught my attention, which discussed the virtue of an individual who is inherently “good”, and the choices they make having infinite knowledge and the power to create amazing things. One part of this excerpt states, “Now it wasn’t permitted…that one who is… supremely good should do anything but what is best. Accordingly, the god reasoned and concluded that in the realm of things naturally visible no unintelligent thing could as a whole be better than anything which does possess intelligence as a whole, and he further concluded that it is impossible for anything to come to possess intelligence apart from soul”(Foltz 22). I found this passage striking because it explains that those who are gifted with intelligence and skill have the power and responsibility to create as much as they can to contribute to their environment without greed. This passage relates to the Clerk in Chaucer’s Canterbury tales, as he “…spent on books and learning,/ And diligently did pray for the souls/ Of those who gave him the wherewithal to attend the schools…/And gladly would he learn and gladly teach”(Chaucer 300-302, 308). The Clerk clearly has a gift of knowledge that has been granted to him by the generosity of his friends. He is aware of his privilege and without greed, he learns, reads, and studies so that he is able to return the favor and teach those who require education. He prays for the people who have helped him and donated money for his schooling, and spends every single day distributing his knowledge to others. This relates to the Foltz passage in the sense that the Clerk has been given much knowledge and wisdom and has chosen to not keep it for himself, but give to others.