Skip to content

Nicole Oresme, Questiones Super Physicam

by Stefano Caroti, Jean Celeyrette, Stefan Kirschner, Edmond Mazet

AristotleScience, ancientPhysics, early works to 1800Ancient SciencePhysicsEarly works to 1800Sciences antiquesPhysique

Among the commentaries on Aristotle's Physics produced by medieval masters in the 14th Century Oresme's is one of the most interesting. The main problems of natural philosophy (motion, time, intension and remission of forms) as well as cognitive and ontological issues are widely discussed. Oresme proposes original solutions to most of these topics, based on an original view concerning the relationship beween substance and its properties (condicio/condiciones, modi rerum); Oresme's solutions are always associated with sharp criticism of the two main philosophical schools: the realists (Walter Burley) and the nominalist (William Ockham).This commentary is a very valuable record of the philosophical discussions at Paris in the midst of the 4th Century.

Writing a summary for young readers…

For young readers

Book data: Open Library