William Heytesbury
Encyclopedia
William Heytesbury philosopher and logician, is best known as one of the Oxford Calculators
of Merton College, where he was a fellow by 1330.
In his work he applied logical techniques to the problems of divisibility, the continuum, and kinematics
.
His magnum opus
was the Regulae solvendi sophismata (Rules for Solving Sophism
s), written c. 1335.
He was Chancellor
of the University of Oxford
from 1371 until 1372.
Oxford Calculators
The Oxford Calculators were a group of 14th-century thinkers, almost all associated with Merton College, Oxford, who took a strikingly logico-mathematical approach to philosophical problems....
of Merton College, where he was a fellow by 1330.
In his work he applied logical techniques to the problems of divisibility, the continuum, and kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
.
His magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
was the Regulae solvendi sophismata (Rules for Solving Sophism
Sophism
Sophism in the modern definition is a specious argument used for deceiving someone. In ancient Greece, sophists were a category of teachers who specialized in using the tools of philosophy and rhetoric for the purpose of teaching aretê — excellence, or virtue — predominantly to young statesmen and...
s), written c. 1335.
He was Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
from 1371 until 1372.
Works
- 1335 - Regulae solvendi sophismata (Rules for Solving Sophisms)
- 1. On insoluble sentences
- 2. On knowing and doubting
- 3. On relative terms
- 4. On beginning and ceasing
- 5. On maxima and minima
- 6. On the three categories
- 1483 - De probationibus conclusionum tractatus regularum solvendi sophismata -, Pavia 1483
- De tribus praedicamentis
- De probationibus conclusionum tractatus regularum solvendi sophismata (On the Proofs of Conclusions from the Treatise of Rules for Resolving Syllogisms)
- Liber Calculationum
Further reading
- Sylla, Edith (1982) "The Oxford Calculators", in Norman KretzmannNorman KretzmannNorman J. Kretzmann was a Professor of Philosophy at Cornell University who specialised in the history of medieval philosophy and the philosophy of religion.Kretzmann joined Cornell's Department of Philosophy in 1966...
, Anthony KennyAnthony KennySir Anthony John Patrick Kenny FBA is an English philosopher whose interests lie in the philosophy of mind, ancient and scholastic philosophy, the philosophy of Wittgenstein and the philosophy of religion...
& Pinborg (edd.), The Cambridge History of Later Medieval Philosophy - Murdoch, John (1982) "Infinity and Continuity", in Kretzmann, Kenny & Pinborg (edd.), The Cambridge History of Later Medieval Philosophy