History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

Exploring the influence of Neoplatonism and mysticism on German Dominicans like Dietrich of Freiberg and Henry Suso, highlighting their rejection of Aquinas' teachings, blending ancient concepts with contemporary debates, defending Eckhart's philosophies, and mentoring women in spiritual practices.

Explore the daring speculations of the mystic Meister Eckhart about God and humankind, his dual literary output in Latin and German, his theological concept of the soul being both created and uncreated, and his teachings on the soul's origin and radical poverty. Delve into the theological and ethical complexity of Eckhart's philosophy, contrasting internal virtue with external actions.

Medieval economic thought delves into just pricing, usury, and monetary transactions. Scholastic perspectives on money's role in society and ethical considerations. Controversies surrounding usury and currency debasement spark ethical debates in medieval economics. Nicole O'Rame's contributions to mid-14th-century economic theory and government policies through vernacular philosophy.

Delving into medieval skepticism, the podcast explores sensory illusions, divine interventions, and demonic influences on cognition. It discusses the implications of Descartes' evil demon hypothesis, debates God's benevolence, and examines epistemological inquiries. The exploration of mental language and representationalist views challenges the relationship between internal thoughts and external reality, while contrasting Aquinas and Avicenna on sensation and knowledge acquisition.

Exploring the debate between Nicholas of Autrecourt and John Buridan on achieving certain knowledge, skepticism and epistemological challenges, the reliability of intuitive cognitions, Autrecourt's skeptical challenge to Aristotle's foundationalism, and the spread of skeptical ideas in the 14th century.

Peter interviews Jack Zupko about John Buridan, a secular philosopher known for his parsimonious approach. They discuss Buridan's quest for certain knowledge, his unique methodology, and his views on subjects, predicates, and common natures. They also delve into the controversy surrounding the nature of the soul and explore Buridan's theory of impetus in physics.

John Buridan, a nominalist and scholar of knowledge and language, discusses his theory on these subjects as well as the workings of free will. The chapter explores Buridan's popularity, his practical views on logic and language, his empiricist philosophy, his distinction between realist and predicate essentialism, and his response to skepticism regarding freedom and decision-making.

Monica Green, an expert in medieval medicine and philosophy, discusses the challenges of analyzing medical content within other sources, the complexities of translating Greek and Arabic medical texts into Latin, advancements in 14th-century medicine including anatomy, surgery, pharmaceuticals, and public health, the understanding of the Black Death by medieval medical writers, and the role of gender in medieval medicine.

Medieval philosophers Ockham, Buridan, Oresme, and Marchia delve into infinity, continuity, atomism, and the impetus of motion in 14th-century physics. The podcast also explores the influence of Aristotle and Ptolemy on astronomy and cosmology, different perspectives on matter and discrete points, and the concept of motion and Avicenna's contributions.

Oxford Calculators at the University of Oxford make breakthroughs in physics by applying mathematics to motion. They explore concepts such as force, resistance, and velocity. Additionally, they discuss the theory of motion in void and introduce alternative theories. The podcast also delves into the concepts and theories of the Oxford Calculators in the field of physics, including force and resistance ratios, speed and force relationships, and uniform and accelerated motion. Impetus and other innovations in physics by 14th-century thinkers are also mentioned.