The Reception of John Philoponus’ Natural Philosophy : Aristotelian Science From Late Antiquity to the Renaissance

In some of his most famous works, John Philoponus (c. 490-570 CE) confronts numerous aspects of Aristotle’s philosophy and science.Yet the influence of these reinterpretations and critiques remains under-examined.This volume fills this gap by uncovering the considerable impact of Philoponus’ natural philosophy in both the medieval and Renaissance periods. Divided into three parts, the first part of the volume introduces central concepts in Philoponus’ philosophy.Highlighting the areas of crossover as well as of disagreement with Aristotle, chapters dedicate specific attention to Philoponus’ theories of place, matter and vacuum; his ideas of motion; his discussion of the heavens and the fifth element; and his anthropology.This is followed, in parts two and three, by a focus on Philoponus’ reception in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance respectively.Shedding light on the scientific ideas circulating in these periods, international experts explore a range of topics from the renewal of Ar