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.

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 & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
• Supervisor's Name: Broadie, Prof. Alexander
• Date of Award: 2012
• 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: 23 Sep 2015 13:18
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/3285