Weekly Insights for Thinkers

Science  Philosophy  Critical Thinking  History  Politics RW  AI  Physics  •  Evolution  Astronomy 30 Phil Book More…
Science  Phil  Cr. Think  Hist 

STORY

The “Dark” Middle Ages

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Mon 10 Jun 2024
Published 2 years ago.
Updated 2 years ago.
Share :
The Middle Ages, from the end of the classical era to the Renaissance, is traditionally seen as intellectually dark due to the dominance of a single narrative over the unknown. It is characterized by the rise of belief systems.

The “Dark” Middle Ages

New Look

30 Phil, Chapter 14: At the start of part 2 titled “The Rise of Belief Systems,” we take a new look at the old debate of whether it was a “dark” time or not. The position we take is that the Middle Ages were “intellectually dark” due to the adoption of a single story. Philosophically and politically, the adopting of a single story for the unknown is dangerous and the dark Middle Ages stands as warning. 

— map / TST —

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher
Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable, evolving analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.
This Week @ TST
February 25, 2026
»Edition Archive
WWB Research….
1. Story of the Week
Alfred Korzybski
2. Quote of the Week
Live legal, moral, and fair.
3. Science FAQ »
What does neuroscience say about “identity?”
4. Philosophy FAQ »
Why do people confuse explanations with reality?
5. Critical Thinking FAQ »
What is worldview humility?
6. History FAQ!
What does history teach us about authoritarian rule?
Bonus Deep-Dive Article
Mindscape Framework
Scroll to Top