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Wyclif on collectives

ContributorsCesalli, Laurent
Published inAmerini, F. ; Binini, I. ; Mugnai, M. (Ed.), Mereology in Medieval Logic and Metaphysics, p. 297-311
PublisherPisa : Edizioni della Normale
Publication date2019
Abstract

Collectives are familiar items in Wyclif's ontology. They are characterized as aggregates – aggregata – and this is the technical term I first took to be a trustworthy lexical indicator for collectives in Wyclif. But his use of that technical term turned out to be way too wide, for aggregata are all over the place in Wyclif. Here are some examples. Wyclif calls aggregates, in logic: propositions, truths, and inferences; in metaphysics: individual substances, relations, mixed bodies, integral wholes and universals; in ethics: passions, virtues and vices, but also sins, and so on and so forth. So while the term aggregatum does indeed catch all the collectives, it appears also to designate many items that, at least prima facie, are not collectives. In this paper, I will first briefly evaluate the reasons given for considering Wyclif's mereology as being deviant; second, I will consider the objection of infinite regress addressed to the wyclifian theory of the aggregate man; third, I will try to connect Wyclif's mereology with two other central aspects of his thought, namely is broader metaphysics and his Trinitarian theology.

Keywords
  • John Wyclif
  • Metaphysics
  • Medieval philosophy
  • Mereology
Citation (ISO format)
CESALLI, Laurent. Wyclif on collectives. In: Mereology in Medieval Logic and Metaphysics. Amerini, F. ; Binini, I. ; Mugnai, M. (Ed.). Pisa : Edizioni della Normale, 2019. p. 297–311.
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accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
  • PID : unige:144279
ISBN9788876426674
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