Occasio dubitandi. Expressions of Trust and Distrust Between Latin Medieval Astronomers (13th-15th c.)
Serra, Sophie LU
(2026)
In History of Philosophy and Logical Analysis
- Abstract
This paper investigates the construction of trust in scientific inquiries and defends the importance of social epistemology in 13th century Parisian astronomy. A major issue in ancient and medieval astronomy is attributed to the difficulty of acquiring precise first-hand knowledge of astral phenomena, making collective work necessary, but raising concerns about trusting second-hand knowledge. The paper begins by examining Ptolemaian epistemology, in its moral and cognitive aspects. It then turns to the late Middle Ages, a challenging period for astronomy, marked by significant changes between the 13th and 14th centuries. Manuscript Paris, Bnf, Latin 7281, containing William of Saint-Cloud's Almanach planetarum, is presented as key... (More)
This paper investigates the construction of trust in scientific inquiries and defends the importance of social epistemology in 13th century Parisian astronomy. A major issue in ancient and medieval astronomy is attributed to the difficulty of acquiring precise first-hand knowledge of astral phenomena, making collective work necessary, but raising concerns about trusting second-hand knowledge. The paper begins by examining Ptolemaian epistemology, in its moral and cognitive aspects. It then turns to the late Middle Ages, a challenging period for astronomy, marked by significant changes between the 13th and 14th centuries. Manuscript Paris, Bnf, Latin 7281, containing William of Saint-Cloud's Almanach planetarum, is presented as key evidence. William there offers innovative astronomical insights, while expressing concerns that his ideas might provoke doubt among his opponents. The final part deals with a marginal gloss by an anonymous 15th-c. annotator who expresses reservations about William but also surprisingly echoes his epistemic stance.
(Less)
- author
- Serra, Sophie
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- Astronomy, Change, Social Epistemology, Testimonies, Trust, Virtues
- in
- History of Philosophy and Logical Analysis
- publisher
- Brill
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105027463907
- ISSN
- 2666-4283
- DOI
- 10.30965/26664275-bja10117
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 71472103-55d4-4f25-afd8-c451b6f5f53f
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-16 15:13:36
- date last changed
- 2026-03-16 15:14:09
@article{71472103-55d4-4f25-afd8-c451b6f5f53f,
abstract = {{<p>This paper investigates the construction of trust in scientific inquiries and defends the importance of social epistemology in 13th century Parisian astronomy. A major issue in ancient and medieval astronomy is attributed to the difficulty of acquiring precise first-hand knowledge of astral phenomena, making collective work necessary, but raising concerns about trusting second-hand knowledge. The paper begins by examining Ptolemaian epistemology, in its moral and cognitive aspects. It then turns to the late Middle Ages, a challenging period for astronomy, marked by significant changes between the 13th and 14th centuries. Manuscript Paris, Bnf, Latin 7281, containing William of Saint-Cloud's Almanach planetarum, is presented as key evidence. William there offers innovative astronomical insights, while expressing concerns that his ideas might provoke doubt among his opponents. The final part deals with a marginal gloss by an anonymous 15th-c. annotator who expresses reservations about William but also surprisingly echoes his epistemic stance.</p>}},
author = {{Serra, Sophie}},
issn = {{2666-4283}},
keywords = {{Astronomy; Change; Social Epistemology; Testimonies; Trust; Virtues}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Brill}},
series = {{History of Philosophy and Logical Analysis}},
title = {{Occasio dubitandi. Expressions of Trust and Distrust Between Latin Medieval Astronomers (13th-15th c.)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.30965/26664275-bja10117}},
doi = {{10.30965/26664275-bja10117}},
year = {{2026}},
}