Prof. P.J.J.M. Bakker (Paul)

Prof. Paul Bakker is particularly interested in medieval and Renaissance natural philosophy. He is the editor of John Buridan’s commentary on Aristotle’s Physics (with Michiel Streijger) and Marsilius of Inghen’s commentary on Aristotle’s On the Heavens (with Bert Bos and Michiel Streijger). He has published on various themes from the philosophy of mind: the relation between body, soul, and mind, theories of the soul’s faculties, and views of sense perception. His other field of interest is the development of psychology as an independent scientific discipline distinct from philosophy.

Bakker studies published and unpublished commentaries on Aristotle’s Physics, On the Heavens, and On the Soul. The institutional contexts in which these commentaries emerged, and the conplex relations between philosophical and theological motives and arguments constitute major elements in his research. His main focus is on thinkers such as John Buridan, Marsilius of Inghen, Blasius of Parma, and Pietro Pomponazzi.

Bakker is co-editor of the book series “Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy and Science” (with Christoph Lüthy) and member of the editorial board of the journal “Vivarium” (both published by Brill Academic Publishers).