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A medieval controversy about odor

S Kemp1

  • 1University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
|July 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Medieval scholars debated odor transmission, with Aristotle proposing a medium and Plato suggesting fumes. Evidence like birds detecting carrion supported Aristotle's theory, influencing medieval scientific thought.

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Area of Science:

  • History of Science
  • Medieval Philosophy
  • Sensory Perception

Background:

  • Medieval scholars engaged in debates on the nature of odor transmission.
  • Two prominent theories emerged: Aristotle's 'medium' theory and Plato's 'fumes' theory.

Observation:

  • Aristotle's theory was supported by observations of birds detecting carrion from great distances.
  • This observation served as key evidence in the medieval discourse on olfaction.

Findings:

  • The debate on odor transmission was a secular controversy during the Middle Ages.
  • Scholarly approaches to this debate mirrored methods used for more significant philosophical issues.

Implications:

  • This historical analysis reveals the sophisticated reasoning applied to sensory science in the medieval period.

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  • Understanding these historical debates provides context for the evolution of olfactory science.