Jaki pożytek płynie z czytania? Kwestia utilitas w średniowiecznych accessus ad auctores
What Is the Benefit of Reading? The Question of utilitas in the Medieval accessus ad auctores

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the role of utilitas – usefulness, one of the most important items used in the medieval accessus ad auctores. These introductions consisted of the subject matter (materia) of the book, author’s intention (intentio scribentis), the benefit to be gained by the reader (utilitas) and assigned the book its part of philosophy (cui parte philosophiae supponitur). The medieval approaching to classical authors was more or less ambiguous. Knowledge of pagan literature was undoubtedly necessary, but the books included also many ideas inappropriate for Christian pupils. Accessus enhanced the prestige of secular literature. The commentators in their prefatory notes endeavoured to underline, above all, didactic and moral aspects of presented works. The point called utilitas was to serve this purpose. The examples of utilitas – usefulness presented in the article show the spiritual and practical benefits to be gained from studied texts, which should help people to observe everyday life. With accessus rich and varied literature of antiquity had been included into framework, in accordance with the mentality of the Middle Ages. I consider utilitas, that indicated the meaning and value of the work, an essential element of accessus.

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