Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Sylvia Berryman

Sylvia Berryman :: UBC Department of Philosophy

Cambridge, HPS Seminar Abstracts:

15 May Sylvia Berryman (University of British Columbia)
The 'mechanical hypothesis' in Ancient Greek natural philosophy

I argue that the impact of the mechanics of the Hellenistic period on ancient natural philosophy has been underappreciated, and that the reasons for its rejection by the philosophical schools of late antiquity need to be re-examined. Traces of a 'mechanical hypothesis' can be found in late antiquity; attention to this helps us understand the role of the discipline of mechanics in the history of natural philosophy. The reason for the Neoplatonist rejection of the generality of mechanical theory stem from some unsolved problems and counter evidence, rather than a blanket rejection of mechanics as mere art, as marvellous, or as working 'against nature'.

Sylvia Berryman - The Structured Self in Hellenistic and Roman ...
O'Keefe's comments on Sylvia Berryman, "Ancient Automata and ...
Metaphysics, Soul, and Ethics in Ancient Thought: Themes from the ... - Google Books Result
Phronesis Vol. 48, No. 4 August 2003
Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy: Volume XXIII: Winter 2002 - Google Books Result
Vision Of Humanity Democritus by Sylvia Berryman