Natural philosophy in the graduation theses of the Scottish universities in the first half of the seventeenth century

Gellera, Giovanni (2012) Natural philosophy in the graduation theses of the Scottish universities in the first half of the seventeenth century. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Abstract

The graduation theses of the Scottish universities in the first half of the seventeenth century are at the crossroads of philosophical and historical events of fundamental importance: Renaissance and Humanist philosophy, Scholastic and modern philosophy, Reformation and Counterreformation, the rise of modern science. The struggle among these tendencies shaped the culture of the seventeenth century. Graduation theses are a product of the Scholasticism of the modern age, which survived the Reformation in Scotland and decisively influenced Scottish philosophy in the seventeenth century, including the reception of early modern philosophy. We can therefore speak of a ‘Scottish Scholasticism’, characterised by an original reception and interpretation of the long traditions of Scholastic philosophy and Aristotelianism. The aim of the thesis is the analysis of the general physics of the graduation theses: the two central theories are prime matter and movement. Natural philosophy is a particularly interesting case, and the main features of the graduation theses are the reception of Scholasticism alongside innovation within Scholasticism. Graduation theses adhere to the Scholastic tradition, especially Scotism, while being innovative in their opposition to Catholic forms of Scholasticism. Scottish Scholasticism can be then further qualified as an example of ‘Reformed Scholasticism’.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level:	Doctoral
Keywords:	aristotelianism, scholasticism, natural philosophy, protestant scholasticism, history of the universities, scotism
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) L Education > LA History of education D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
Colleges/Schools:	College of Arts > School of Humanities > History
Supervisor's Name:	Broadie, Prof. Alexander
Date of Award:	2012
Embargo Date:	25 March 2015
Depositing User:	Mr Giovanni Gellera
Unique ID:	glathesis:2012-3285
Copyright:	Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2012
Last Modified:	10 Dec 2012 14:05
URI:	http://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/3285

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