Knowing and Trusting: The Medieval Social Epistemologies of Augustine and Aquinas

This dissertation is an introductory exploration of two influential medieval thinkers, Augustine and Aquinas, on the topic of testimony. I explain how Augustine's view that testimony is a source of knowledge (notitia) developed through four stages, and argue that on Augustine's view testimonial belief is justified inferentially. I argue that Aquinas thinks some testimonial belief is justified inferentially, and some is justified by adhering to the speaker as the formal object of one's belief, on the grounds that the speaker is truthful. I argue that they provide knowledge when they provide "cognitio". And I argue that Aquinas's view can be developed into a plausible account of testimonial trust and trustworthiness.Ph.D