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Document Details :

Title: Comets, Earthquakes and Gunpowder
Subtitle: School Philosophy in Libertus Fromondus' Meteorologicorum libri sex (1627)
Author(s): VANPAEMEL, Geert
Journal: Lias
Volume: 41    Issue: 1   Date: 2014   
Pages: 53-68
DOI: 10.2143/LIAS.41.1.3034681

Abstract :
The position of Fromondus as a natural philosopher has often been analysed in the context of his opposition against Cartesianism and his infamous turnabout with respect to Copernicanism. Yet, during the seventeenth century, Fromondus was a widely respected philosopher, whose Meteorologicorum libri sex (1627) remained in print until 1670. We argue that the Meteorologicorum libri should be read as a representation of academic school philosophy, in which training of the mind was more important than content. Bearing in mind that meteorology was a minor part of the propaedeutic instruction of the Arts Faculty, the Meteorologicorum libri can be read as part of a university culture in which public disputations and ostentatious erudition were highly appreciated.

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