Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Production, Reception and Transmission of Knowledge

0544924 - FLÚ 2022 RIV BE eng, lat M - Monography Chapter
Lička, Lukáš
Studying and Discussing Optics at the Prague Faculty of Arts: Optical Topics and Authorities in Prague Quodlibets and John of Borotín’s Quaestio on Extramission.
Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Production, Reception and Transmission of Knowledge. Turnhout: Brepols, 2021 - (Pavlíček, O.), s. 251-303. Studia Artistarum, 48. ISBN 978-2-503-59317-3
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA19-16793S
Institutional support: RVO:67985955
Keywords : medieval philosophy * medieval science * medieval Prague university * quodlibets * late medieval disputation * medieval optics * extramission * John of Borotín * Simon of Tišnov * Jenek of Prague * Conrad of Soltau
OECD category: Philosophy, History and Philosophy of science and technology
https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SA-EB.5.122641

The paper presents a preliminary estimation of the extent of dissemination of optical texts, ideas, and issues among the masters connected with the Prague faculty of arts in the late 14th and early 15th century. Investigation of this topic, so far rather neglected, is based chiefly on manuscript research. The paper brings evidence that perspectiva was taught in Prague at least since the 1370s. It suggests that investigation of Prague quodlibetal disputations (ca. 1390s – 1410s) and consideration of perspectivist authorities employed in these texts can also shed some light on the issue. However, the paper is mainly devoted to the question on the mechanism of vision disputed by Bohemian arts master John of Borotín (Iohannes de Borotin, 1378 – after 1458) in the quodlibet organised by John Hus in 1411. It is suggested that the single extant exemplar of the question (preserved in the codex Prague, National Library, X.H.18) probably is Borotín’s autograph. The structure and sources of the question are analysed, with the conclusion being that Borotín proposes a compromise between intromission and extramission influenced by John Peckham’s Perspectiva communis. A critical edition of Borotín’s question is appended to the paper.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0321725