Commentarii in universa[m] Aristotelis Phisicam; [manuscript].

Title:

Commentarii in universa[m] Aristotelis Phisicam [manuscript].

Abstract:

Scientific work of natural philosophy, first treating general topics like first, second, and final causality, then moving on to specific investigations, such as heaviness and lightness, magnetism, heavenly bodies, and the rainbow. Russo frequently criticizes Aristotle and his scholastic followers, preferring René Descartes and Pierre Gassendi. He chides Christian philosophers for rejecting the scientific reasonings of Epicurus (f. 200r), whose atomic theory he accepts. The more scientific sections of this book include frequent diagrams. According to the author, the text was composed at age 17, when he was taught by D. Iosephus Bonicorus (f. 96r). The author recognizes that bodies of different mass fall at the same rate, a 17th-century concept, and mentions the telescope, which was not invented until 1608 nor named until 1611. Moreover, his principal guides, Descartes and Gassendi, both published in the first half of the 17th century. A table of contents follows the work.

Format:

288 leaves : paper; 210 x 152 (161 x 98) mm. bound to 220 x 166 mm.

Identifier:

(OCoLC)ocn227037215; (OCoLC)227037215; (PU)4303172-penndb-Voyager

Language:

Latin, with some Greek words (for example, f. 9r, 151r, 161r).

Publisher:

[Italy, between 1611 and 1699]

Subject:

Physics -- Early works to 1800.; Physical sciences -- Early works to 1800.; Codices.; Commentaries.; Treatises.; Manuscripts, Latin; 17th century.; Manuscripts, European.

Type:

Manuscript

Personal Name:

Descartes, René,; Gassendi, Pierre,; Aristotle; Aristotle.; Bonicorus, D. Iosephus.

Call Number:

Ms. Codex 1167

Collection:

Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts