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N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
The Last of the Renaissance Aristotelians and His (Their?) Influence on Modern Science
John P. McCaskeyStanford UniversityProgram in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
Jacopo Zabarella: The Last of the Renaissance Aristotelians and His Influence on Modern Science
Jacopo Zabarella
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Montaigne
Zabarella 1532 15891578
1533 15921580
Galileo 1564 16421638
1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 1620 1630 16401530
Montaigne and Zabarella
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Zabarella 1532 1589
Galileo 1564 16421638
School of Padua
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
1500 1600 1700 1800
Inductive Science
Scholastic Aristotelianism
Comes Down to Induction
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
I Tatti Renaissance LibraryHarvard University Press
I Tatti Renaissance Library
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Method of Regressus
Argue from effect to cause
Argue from cause to effect
Regressus: Its Two Parts
Planets are near.
Planets do not twinkle.
À posteriori À priori
Resolution Composition
Induction Deduction
Knowledge of the fact
Knowledge of the reasoned fact
Particulars to universal
Universals to particulars
?
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Method of Regressus
Argue from effect to cause
Argue from cause to effect
Regressus: Two Syllogisms
Therefore, planets are near.Planets do not twinkle.What does not twinkle is near.
Therefore, planets do not twinkle.Planets are near.What is near does not twinkle.
Planets are near.
Planets do not twinkle.
Demonstratio quiaDemonstratio ab effectuDemonstratio a signoSyllogismo a signoDemonstration of the
second grade
Demonstratio propter quidDemonstratio potissimaDemonstration in the
highest sense
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Induction
Induction
Therefore, every man is biped.
Peter is biped.Socrates is biped.Plato is biped.
Therefore, every man is biped.
Peter, Socrates, Plato & any other man are biped.Peter, Socrates, Plato & any other man are men.
Therefore, all men are biped.
Peter, Socrates, Plato & any other man are biped.All men are Peter, Socrates, Plato & any other man.
“propriolumine ”
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Method of Regressus
Argue from effect to cause
Argue from cause to effect
Regressus: Two Syllogisms, Three Insights
Therefore, planets are near.Planets do not twinkle.What does not twinkle is near.
Therefore, planets do not twinkle.Planets are near.What is near does not twinkle.
Planets are near.
Planets do not twinkle.
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9Everard Digby of Cambridge
Montaigne
Zabarella 1532 15891578
1533 15921580
Digby c.1551 16051579
1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 1620 1630 16401530
Everard Digbyc. 1551–1605
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
Argue from effect to cause
Argue from cause to effect
Digby’s Ascent and Descent
Therefore, planets do not twinkle.Planets are near.What is near does not twinkle.
Therefore, planets are near.Planets do not twinkle.What does not twinkle is near.
Effects
Causes
The One Cause
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9Zabarella and Digby
Zabarella 1532 15891578
Digby c.1551 16051579
1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 1620 1630 16401530
All valid knowledge is • à priori• deductive• deduced from ideas that are • “clear,” • “known by a clear light,” • “known by their own light,” • “distinct”• justified by contemplative insight alone, without need for empirical grounding
“the almost mystical beginnings of knowledge”
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9Descartes
Zabarella 1532 15891578
Digby c.1551 16051579
1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 1620 1630 16401530
Descartes 1596 1644
N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A R E N A I S S A N C E C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 0 9
1500 1600 1700 1800
Inductive Science
Scholastic Aristotelianism Deductive
Science
Humanist Aristotelianism
S
Method of Ascent & Descent
Method of Regressus
“idol”
Concluding Integration