> I know I once read somewhere that there is no evidence that any
>scholastic philosopher ever really contemplated "How many angels can dance
>on the head of a pin," but does anyone know when this particular canard
>appeared or who introduced it? (I did a web search just now and it is
>definitely alive and well as a misconception about the Middle Ages...at
>least I *hope* it's a misconception!)
> Thanks,
> John S.
>____________________________________________________________________________
>John Shinners e-mail:[log in to unmask]
>Chair and Professor Phone: (office): (219) 284-4494
>Humanistic Studies Program Phone (dept.): (219) 284-4501
>Saint Mary's College Fax: (219) 284-4716
>Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Dear John,
Doubtless I shall be shot down in flames by those who know better, but off
the top of my head I thought it was something referred to by either Duns
Scotus or William of Ockham, as an example of a fruitless enquiry NOT to
carry out--the point being that because they are incorporeal, spiritual
entities, an infinite number could do so--provided they had nothing better
to do, I suppose.
I await my beig blasted out of the sky by the big guns...
Cheers,
Brian Donaghey
Brian Donaghey - Dept of English Language & Linguistics, University of
Sheffield - Tel. 0114 22 20213
...nec bibliothecae potius comptos ebore ac vitro parietes quam tuae mentis
sedem requiro, in qua non libros, sed id quod libris pretium facit,
librorum quondam meorum sententias, collocavi.--Boethius I pr.5
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