An investigation into late-medieval epistemology, with special reference to John Mair (ca. 1467-1550) and members of his circle
The central theme of my thesis is the nature of assent as expounded in late-medieval epistemology and the way demonstrative assent relates to assents of probable reason, in particular, assents of faith and opinion. The historical context for my discussion is the sixteenth century and I make extensive use of the writings of John Mair (ca., 1467-1550), Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1518 to 1523 and members of his circle. 1 begin by exploring what it means to be a human being. The human being, as understood by Mair and his colleagues, is ~mind informing body~. There is only one specific form of human beings, the ~mind~ (anima intellectiva). The mind is primarily the powers of intellect and of will. It is in virtue of these powers that a human being is able to acquire knowledge. The remaining chapters are dedicated to an examination of the late-medieval use of ~notion~ (notitia) which is a technical term used to refer to a variety of cognitive acts. It is one of the building blocks of late-medieval epistemology; it was universally accepted that a notion is a quality which vitally changes the cognitive power. The term ~notion~ did not originate in late-medieval philosophy although it is clear from
Wood, Robert Neil
An investigation into late-medieval epistemology, with special reference to John Mair (ca. 1467-1550) and members of his circle. The central theme of my thesis is the nature of assent as expounded in late-medieval epistemology and the way demonstrative assent relates to assents of probable reason, in particular, assents of faith and opinion. The historical context for my discussion is the sixteenth century and I make extensive use of the writings of John Mair (ca., 1467-1550), Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1518 to 1523 and members of his circle. 1 begin by exploring what it means to be a human being. The human being, as understood by Mair and his colleagues, is ~mind informing body~. There is only one specific form of human beings, the ~mind~ (anima intellectiva). The mind is primarily the powers of intellect and of will. It is in virtue of these powers that a human being is able to acquire knowledge. The remaining chapters are dedicated to an examination of the late-medieval use of ~notion~ (notitia) which is a technical term used to refer to a variety of cognitive acts. It is one of the building blocks of late-medieval epistemology; it was universally accepted that a notion is a quality which vitally changes the cognitive power. The term ~notion~ did not originate in late-medieval philosophy although it is clear from
investigation late_medieval epistemology special_reference john member circle central_theme nature expound late_medieval epistemology way demonstrative relate probable reason particular faith opinion historical_context discussion make_extensive use writing john principal university glasgow member circle begin explore mean_human human understood colleague mind inform body specific form human_being mind anima mind primarily power intellect will virtue power human able acquire_knowledge remain dedicate examination late_medieval use notion technical term use refer variety cognitive act building block late_medieval epistemology universally accept notion quality vitally change cognitive power term notion originate late_medieval philosophy although clear