Why did Petrarch reject medieval Scholasticism?

Petrarch rejected medieval Scholasticism because he viewed its focus on sterile argumentation and endless dialectical subtleties as a "barbaric" departure from true intellectual and moral inquiry.12

Rather than engaging with the complex, abstract logic favored by Scholastic thinkers, Petrarch sought illumination and values in the moral weight of the Classical world. He believed that the study of Classical authors from antiquity provided a more authentic alternative to the intellectual traditions of his time. By turning to these ancient models and the Church Fathers, he aimed to synthesize Classical culture with Christian spirituality, viewing the former as a rich promise and the latter as its divine fulfillment.1324

Ultimately, Petrarch’s rejection of Scholasticism was central to his role as a founder of Renaissance humanism, as he prioritized rhetoric, self-knowledge, and moral autonomy over the rigid, technical methods of his medieval predecessors.312