There is a reference to Buridan in Name of the Rose in Prime of the First
Day, or p. 19 of my Warner Books paperback edition, although no mention is
made of the Donkey paradox there. There may be other references, but I,
like others, will wait for the concordance.
John Buridan was a 14th century french philosopher at the the University of
Paris. A previous responder to this question noted that the paradox of
"Buridan's Ass" is falsely attributed to him. However, Buridan apparently
did employ a similar device using a dog in his commentary on Aristotle's *De
Caelo* (which I have not read).
One point that doesn't seem to have come up so far is the lesson behind the
paradox. Although a donkey standing equidistant between two bales of hay
will starve, a man will not. The difference is that man exercises free will
and can choose.
Perhaps a greater paradox is why this "thread" is getting so much attention.
In Message Sun, 20 Feb 1994 09:43:13 -0800,
"Betsy McKenzie, St. Louis University" <MCKENZIEBM@SLUVCA.SLU.EDU> writes:
>I think this paradox was mentioned in _The Sign of the Rose_. I
>t's such a large book, I'd hate to look for it, though.
>
>Betsy McKenzie
>Readers Sevices Librarian
>St. Louis University
>School of Law Library
>3700 Lindell Blvd.
>St. Louis, MO 63108
>
>(314) 658-2739
>
>I-net mckenziebm@sluvca.slu.edu
_____________________
James Leonard
Professor of Law
Law Library Director
Ohio Northern University
jleonard@crassus.onu.edu
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