Richard Swainhead or Suicet ( born Richard Swineshead or Suisset , first half of the 14th century) - mathematician , mechanic , philosopher and logician , the most prominent representative of the Oxford accountants group from Merton College , of which he was a member since 1344. His main work is a collection of the 16 treatises The Book of Calculations ( Liber calculationum ) was written around 1346 and was reprinted many times before the 16th century. [1] ; This essay brought the author the glory of a calculator , which later spread to other philosophers of his circle.
Richard Swainshead | |
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Richard swineshead | |
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Scientific field | mathematics , mechanics , logic , philosophy |
Place of work | Merton College Oxford University |
Alma mater | Merton College Oxford University |
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Content
Biography
Born in Glastonbury. He studied at Merton College , Oxford . He was a monk of the Cistercian Order [1] .
The main subject of the “Book of Computations” is the concepts of mechanical motion and change in general, as well as the related philosophical problems of continuity continuity and infinity , which are modeled by Swainshed mathematically. In particular, Swainshead, as an example of his philosophical constructions, proves the theorem on the sum of an infinite series
Arguing about the main problems of mechanics and physics , Swainshead introduced a number of new abstract concepts into these sciences. He studied the effect on the quality of the speed of their changes, determined the nature of strength , density , resistance and reactions of bonds . Together with colleagues from Merton College, he introduced the concept of instantaneous velocity into mechanics [1] .
Swainshead clarifies the definition of uniform motion given earlier by Heightsbury : “uniform local motion is one in which an equal distance is described for any equal part of time” [2] . Here the word “any” is essential; Heightsbury, however, putting forward the idea of dividing movement time into equal parts, has not yet noted that any equal parts of time should be considered [3] .
The works of Sweineshead and other Oxford calculators have noticeably influenced some of the creators of the New Age science, and above all - Galileo Galilei . Girolamo Cardano considered Swainhead one of the 12 greatest thinkers of all times and peoples. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in his two letters called him one of the first scientists who applied mathematics in physics and introduced mathematics into scholastic philosophy [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Bogolyubov, 1983 , p. 457.
- ↑ Swineshead, 1959 , p. 245.
- ↑ Gaidenko, Smirnov, 1989 , p. 306.
Publications
- Swineshead Ricardus. De motu // Clagett M. Science of Mechanics in the Middle Ages. - Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1959. - P. 243—246.
Literature
- Bogolyubov A. N. Mathematics. Mechanics. Biographical directory. - Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1983. - 639 p.
- Gaidenko V.P., Smirnov G.A. Western European Science in the Middle Ages: General Principles and the Study of Motion. - M .: Science, 1989. - 352 p. - (Library of world history of natural science). - ISBN 5-02-007958-8 .
- Grigoryan A.T. , Zubov V.P. Essays on the development of basic concepts of mechanics. - M .: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1962. - 274 p.
- The history of mathematics from ancient times to the beginning of the XIX century. T. 1 / Ed. A.P. Yushkevich. - M .: Science, 1970. - 352 p.
- Shirokov V.S. On the "Book of Computations" by Richard Suiset // Historical and Mathematical Research, 21 , 1976. - P. 129-1142.
- Shirokov V.S. Galileo and Medieval Mathematics // Historical and Mathematical Research, 24 , 1979. - P. 88-103.
- Yushkevich A.P. History of mathematics in the Middle Ages. - M .: Fizmatgiz, 1961. - 448 p.
- Clagett M. Richard Swineshead and Late Medieval Physics // Osiris, 9 , 1950. - P. 131—161.
- Hoskin M., Molland A. Swineshead on Falling Bodies: An Example of Fourteenth-Century Physics // British Journal for the History of Science, 3 , 1966. - P. 150-182.
- Thorndike L. A History of Magic and Experimental Science. Vol. 3. - New York: Columbia University Press, 1934. - 827 p.