Richard C. Dales – författare

Marius: On the Elements is a groundbreaking exploration of twelfth-century scientific thought, revealing the remarkable intellectual rigor and experimental focus of its time. Written by the enigmatic figure Marius, this treatise delves into the nature of matter, the composition of elements, and their interactions, employing a dialogue format between teacher and student to engage readers in a systematic inquiry. The text is significant for its advanced treatment of material theory, presenting a quantitative framework for understanding how the diversity of the natural world arises from four fundamental elements. Through experiments, observations, and the rejection of magical explanations, Marius establishes a naturalistic and methodical approach that challenges contemporary accounts of medieval science as overly mystical or unstructured.Despite the scarcity of biographical details about Marius, the text’s connections to both Arabic and Greek influences underscore the dynamic exchange of knowledge in medieval Europe. Marius synthesizes insights from sources such as Isaac Israeli, pseudo-Aristotelian works, and emerging Latin translations of Arabic texts, while also incorporating his own innovative perspectives on substance and composition. His work stands as a testament to the intellectual vitality of the period, pushing the boundaries of understanding while shaping the course of medieval natural philosophy. This treatise remains a vital resource for scholars studying the evolution of scientific methodologies and the cultural exchanges that defined the intellectual landscape of the Middle Ages.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1976.

Marius: On the Elements is a groundbreaking exploration of twelfth-century scientific thought, revealing the remarkable intellectual rigor and experimental focus of its time. Written by the enigmatic figure Marius, this treatise delves into the nature of matter, the composition of elements, and their interactions, employing a dialogue format between teacher and student to engage readers in a systematic inquiry. The text is significant for its advanced treatment of material theory, presenting a quantitative framework for understanding how the diversity of the natural world arises from four fundamental elements. Through experiments, observations, and the rejection of magical explanations, Marius establishes a naturalistic and methodical approach that challenges contemporary accounts of medieval science as overly mystical or unstructured.Despite the scarcity of biographical details about Marius, the text’s connections to both Arabic and Greek influences underscore the dynamic exchange of knowledge in medieval Europe. Marius synthesizes insights from sources such as Isaac Israeli, pseudo-Aristotelian works, and emerging Latin translations of Arabic texts, while also incorporating his own innovative perspectives on substance and composition. His work stands as a testament to the intellectual vitality of the period, pushing the boundaries of understanding while shaping the course of medieval natural philosophy. This treatise remains a vital resource for scholars studying the evolution of scientific methodologies and the cultural exchanges that defined the intellectual landscape of the Middle Ages.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1976.

The scientists of the twelfth century were daring, original, inventive, and above all determined to discover purely rational explanations of natural phenomena. Their intense interest in the natural world for its own sake, their habits of precise observation, and the high value they place on man as a rational being portend a new age in the history of scientific thought. This book offers a comprehensive sampling of medieval scientific thought in the context of an historical narrative.

The editors of this volume have collected a large number of texts, most of them previously available only in manuscript, of a wide range of scholastic views on the problem of the eternity of the world.These selections range from William of Durham in the 1220s to John of Jandun in 1315. They illustrate the continuity of medieval discussions of this crucial topic and present the major arguments on all sides of the question. Several of the authors are anonymous, and many of those whose names are known have been little studied.The notes not only identify the fontes but also, through extensive cross references, show the obligations of these authors to each other. Indices of authorities, names, and biblical citations enhance the book's usefulness for the scholar of medieval thought.