During the middle ages, scientific knowledge was not embraced nor perused by many individuals due to the strict guidelines created by the Catholic Church.  It was during this particular era that the Catholic Church enjoyed a height in power due to recent gains in control over various governmental systems. Many natural puzzlements were answered by the church with a belief that all the answers can be obtain through faith in a divine being.  The Universal Order is a prime illustration in which the Catholic Church attempted to answer the position and shape of the Earth.  It took the courage and scientific intellect of a man named Galileo to discover that the earth indeed was not flat but round, and in orbit around the sun.  Galileo’s breakthrough opened the door for scientific exploration in the Renaissance. In the major motion picture The Name of the Rose, William of Baskerville begins to employ scientific principles in a very religious environment similar to that of Galileo’s. The ethical opinions held by William of Baskerville regarding science are very similar to the beliefs held by philosopher John Dewey.  William and Dewey shared similar beliefs regarding the validity of science, scientific method, and education pursuits.

            Upon William’s arrival to the abbey, he was instantly approached by the Abbot regarding several mysterious deaths.  Without any scientific investigation, many of the monks pronounce the murder to be of the devil. One monk, Ulbertino, hypothesizes that the foundation of the murder was based upon the martyr’s attempt to seek intercourse with the devil.  In contrast to the irrational beliefs of his fellow monks, William begins to investigate the suspicious scenes in which the monks died. Through William’s scientific reasoning and tangible evidence, William is able to discover the true cause of the deaths.  From such scientific evidence, William determines that that the deaths were not from the presence of the devil, but from contention over a work of Aristotle’s Poetics.  Similar to William, John Dewey “sincerely believed that through its method of inquiry science has proven to be a better predictor and creator of knowledge than its competitors” (Sibley, 151).  William believed that science would best assist him in solving the mysterious deaths occurring among the monks.  Instead of immediately placing blame upon the devil, William begins to look for tangible empirical evidence that would signify the true cause of the deaths.  Like John Dewey, William believed that would science inevitably lead him to an actual tangible source from which the deaths transpire.  Such empirical evidence would assist the abbey in preventing future occurrences

            When investigating the death of numerous monks, William began the process of utilizing a scientific model.  William began examining the scene where the death occurred by observing any details that appeared to be out of place. Upon the discovery of any obscure details, William would investigate.  William created more than one hypothesis regarding the manner of the deaths, and tested numerous hypotheses until the end.  Eventually William was able to link the accidental deaths to a book composed by Aristotle, whose pages seemed to contain some form of poison.  Upon creating such a hypothesis, William immediately began a desperate search for the book in an attempt to prove his hypothesis.  William was in fact utilizing a method clarified by John Dewey in an attempt to find a valid solution.  John Dewey described such a method as:

 “Observation of the detailed make up of the situation; analysis into its diverse factors; clarification of what is obscure; discounting of the more insistent and vivid traits; regarding the decision reached as hypothetical and tentative until the anticipate or supposed consequences which led to its adoption have been squared with the actual consequences.  This method of inquiry is intelligence” (Sibley, p. 152)

William was seeking for such intelligence by following the steps described by Dewey.  One can deduce that William like John Dewey believed that “the mind is a simple instrument for solving problems” (Sibley, p. 156), for they both understood the importance of utilizing a scientific model in an attempt to solve various problems.

            When William discovers all the books hidden in the secret chambers of the abbey, he is upset that such knowledge would be concealed from all who wish to learn.  William believes that no one should be forbidden to consult books regardless of the content.  Similarly, John Dewey believed that “education is not schooling, it is growth. Education should be something which lasts a lifetime” (Sibley, p. 159).  Both share equivalent excitement regarding the opportunity to expand their knowledge and examine new ideas and opinions.  Ubertino accuses William of “relying always on the deductions of his [William’s] head instead of trusting in the prophetic capacities of his heart”.  During William’s visit to the abbey, he is met with much opposition regarding his scientific opinions and viewpoints.  Many believe that the quest for knowledge is a sign of pride and will inevitably lead to doubt, which is the enemy of faith.  Like Dewey, William believes that the “acquisition of skill, possession of knowledge, attainment of culture are not ends; they are marks of growth and means to its continuing” (Sibley, p. 159).  Dewey and William both believed that the utilization of one’s mind through continual education will assist in solving daily dilemmas whether scientific or ethical.  

John Dewey and William were full supporters of the pursuit of knowledge through the use of science.  John Dewey believed that “education should be thought of literally as a matter of leading out from a less rich, less informed, less skilled stage to one that is more informed, more skilled, and more enriched” (Sibley, p. 159).  William would indeed agree with this belief of Dewey due to his appreciation, utilization, and quest for scientific principles.  John Dewey and William of Baskerville believe that scientific knowledge and educational pursuit led by a scientific model will inevitably lead to a superior lifestyle.