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Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine

 

 

 

 

1 article for "Buridan, Jean"

Buridan, Jean [Astro*Index]

\byoo-ree-dahn'\

(1300?-1385?) French philosopher. Born at Bethune, Artois; died at Paris.

Professor at University of Paris. Rejected many of Aristotle's theories of physics, particularly the notion that a moving body required the application of a continuous force. Buridan held that a single, initial force was all that was required, thus anticipating Newton by 300 years. In particular, he held that the spheres of heaven required no efforts by angels working to keep them in motion; it was sufficient that God had initially set them in motion.

 

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