Petrus Ramus (Alchemy Interlude 48)

 

Peter Rami, or in Latin, Petrus Ramus, was a student at the Collège de Navarre in 1536. He started there at age 12, and his thesis was titled, 

Quaecumque ab Aristotele dicta essent, commentitia esse (Everything that Aristotle has said is false).

It was the first of a growing discontent with Aristotle and his teachings. Aristotle had been considered the smartest man on Earth for 1800 years, and he had only 100 more years of that fame.

Scholastic teaching methods were in disrepute (debate to establish truth), but some still held Aristotle as the supreme in intellect, and defended that position as the desperate defend themselves. One of these was Jacques Charpentier, professor of medicine, who accused Rami of undermining the foundations of philosophy and religion. This accusation is a consequence of the successful efforts of Thomas Aquinas (pupil of Albertus Magnus) to blend Aristotle into the Church; anyone who challenges Aristotle is by consequence challenging the doctrine of the Church.

The debate between Charpentier and Rami will last until Charpentier killed Rami during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572.

This is not the last we will hear of Aristotle's cosmology being defended by the Church.

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