Visual Representation and Science: Visual Figures of the Universe between Antiquity and the Early Thirteenth Century
Barbara Obrist
The paper raises the question of function visual representations in medieval cosmographical texts. It proposes to view diverse functions figures relation changing discursive environments, including differing philosophical positions and social intellectual contexts. further suggests a distinction between that were elaborated within highly specialized disciplines mathematics philosophy nature Greek Antiquity instrumental transmitting accepted world models, thus avoiding opposition scientific unscientific types verbal pictorial documents. Simplifying changes, when are abstracted form their geometrical context accompany doxographical, descriptive accounts, characterized terms schematization. Concomitantly, mathematical demonstrations tend give way proofs predominantly rhetorical nature: images verbally construed and, order enhance these, actual figures— mostly linear, diagrammatic constructs—are added. With regard Middle Ages, distinguishes two principal periods: period from seventh eleventh century so-called twelfth-century Renaissance. First, cosmological corpus Roman origin gave rise explanations variations but not consequential theoretical developments diagrams tended fuse with summarizing tables at this time. Then, during twelfth century, documents kind translated Arabic also became available Latin West. In mathematics, study remained, however, sparse. Continuous elaborations assimilated material set later only, thirteenth-century university context. Nevertheless, authors accounts increasingly aware expositions ultimately derived models universe. More diversified demonstration corresponding being used, as exemplified by William Conches’ Dragmaticon philosophiae.
Spontaneous generations|PhilSci-Archive (University of Pittsburgh)