Pietro Pomponazzi and the Renaissance Theory of the Elements

Abstract

I Historical background 1. The elements from antiquity to the Middle Ages Part two -texts I. Text 1 -Excerpts from the lecture on De coelo III II. Text 2 -Excerpts from the lecture on De generatione et corruptione I III. Text 3 -Excerpts from the lecture on De generatione et corruptione II IV. Text 4 -Excerpts from the lecture on Meteora IV V. Text 5 -Excerpts from the lecture on De sensu et sensato VI Text 6 -Quaestio de remanentia elementorum in mixto Major dates in the life of Pietro Pomponazzi Bibliography Indexes PrefaceCommenting on the third book of De coelo (December 1520), Pietro Pomponazzi, professor of natural philosophy at the University of Bologna, observed that the Aristotelian theory of the elements was one of the main and most intensely debated topics in the natural philosophy of the time:My lords, this matter, whether the elements formally remain in the mixture or not, is a highly debated matter. This matter has raised not only questions, but whole books. 1 Marginalien' (DFG project n° 503202801). I thank the coordinator, prof. Mario Meliadò, for accepting my research and supporting it.I wish to thank the scientific board of Leuven University Press for accepting the volume into their series; Andrea A. Robiglio, for always encouraging my research on the Renaissance; Pietro B. Rossi and Silvana Broggini, for their friendship and constant support; Cristina Cerami, Valérie Cordonier, and Iolanda Ventura, for our passionate conversations on elements and qualities; and Jan Opsomer, for the valuable opportunity of holding a joint research seminar on the elements. I am also grateful to Andreas Speer and all the friends of the Thomas-Institut for 'hosting' me at the library during the revision of the commentary.Special thanks go to Vittoria Perrone Compagni and Gianfranco Fioravanti, who agreed to peer review this book for Leuven University Press and provided me with valuable suggestions, revisions, and further methodological and bibliographical advice. Their long-term expertise in the history of philosophy and text edition greatly improved the quality of my book.During these two years, I enjoyed the presence of many friends and colleagues, all around Europe.