He was one of the greatest contributors to science. A French mathematician, economist, clergyman, and remarkably forward-thinking man, who was by many considered to be the universal genius of the Middle Ages. Three hundred years before Descartes, he managed to show that one could map the mathematical context graphically. Additional works of Oresme treated optics and mechanics. Oresme was also interested in astronomy and was a pioneer in this area. Oresme was probably the most original thinker of the 14th century – the “French Einstein of the 14th century”.
(1325-1382)
– Nicole d’Oresme Quotes –
The perfection of the heavenly spheres does not depend upon the order of their relative position as to whether one is higher than another.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
Therefore, I indeed know nothing except that I know that I know nothing.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
One could by this believe that the earth and not the heavens is so moved, and there is no evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless, this seems prima facie as much, or more, against natural reason as are all or several articles of our faith. Thus, that which I have said by way of diversion in this manner can be valuable to refute and check those who would impugn our faith by argument.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
For merchants nowadays have more trouble in agreeing on the price and value of money than of the merchandise in which they deal.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
It is probable that two proposed unknown rations are incommensurable because if many unknown rations are proposed it is most probable that any [one] would be incommensurable to any [other].
~ Nicole d’Oresme
We see with our senses the sun and moon and many stars rise and set from day to day, and some stars turn around the arctic pole. This could not be excepted by the movement of the heavens.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
No experience whatsoever could prove that the heavens rotate daily and not the earth.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
No sector of a circle is so small that two such [bodies bodies moving with uniform but incommensurable velocities] could not conjunct in it at some future time, and could not have conjuncted in it sometime [in the past].
~ Nicole d’Oresme
If the heavens were not moved with diurnal movement, all astronomy would be false and a great part of natural philosophy where one supposes this movement of the heavens.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
If the earth and not the heavens were moved with a diurnal movement, it would seem to us that the earth was at rest and the heavens moved. This can be imagined easily by anyone with good intelligence.
~ Nicole d’Oresme
