Richard Swineshead’s Theory of Motion

Richard Swineshead's concise writings on motion offer a revealing glimpse into the evolving nature of fourteenth-century speculative mathematical science at Oxford, specifically focusing on local motion. These writings not only reflect the broader scientific developments of the time but also mark the growth of Swineshead's own scientific understanding and knowledge. Although his work clearly draws from the texts of predecessors like William Heytesbury and Thomas Bradwardine, Swineshead demonstrates a unique and creative engagement with their ideas, advancing them in innovative ways. His two notable treatises on motion are rightly seen as progressive stages that ultimately lead to his significant work on local motion within his extensive Liber colculationum.Interestingly, the preserved texts of these treatises, as found in existing manuscript copies, are likely to be more akin to reports or notes taken by students during Swineshead's lectures rather than systematically composed treatises. This aspect offers a fascinating window into the academic discourse on natural philosophy at fourteenth-century Oxford. The critical edition of Swineshead's writings on local motion included in this volume is thus a valuable resource, providing crucial evidence of the vibrant intellectual life during the later medieval period.