Prof. Salvatore Magazù
From
In residence at
Centre for Advanced Studies in the Renaissance (CESR) / CNRS, University of Tours - FR
Host Scientist
Prof. Pascal Brioist
PROJECT
Interdisciplinary analysis of the Leonardo da Vinci's studies on dynamics
The present project aims to study the scientific production of Leonardo da Vinci concerning the dynamics by means of an integrated approach that combines exact and human sciences, and more specifically physics and history.
The huge interest of Leonardo in dynamics clearly emerges in several points of his notebooks where he discussed topical aspects of this physics branch and developed conceptions that evolved over the time.
Within this general goal, the following specific aims of the project can be identified:
- Recognition and comparative source analysis of the network of scholars, artisans and texts for a reconstruction of the cultural, scientific and technical framework in which Leonardo elaborated his dynamics concepts.
- Impact of the Leonardo’s work on dynamics in the present research fields.
- Impact of the Leonardo’s work on dynamics in the present educational field.
- Evaluation of the Leonardo’s work as an innovative tool for the “third culture” promotion.
- Research partnerships.
Our analysis of the Leonardo’s studies on dynamics will follow two driving lines: i) to place his findings in his time context and ii) to establish connections with the current scientific theories.
The project will be carried out at the Centre d’Etudes Supérieures de la Renaissance (CESR) of Tours, an added value for it being the complementarity between the expertise of the host scientist in history and that of the professor in physics which will allow a deeper interpretation of the Leonardo’s work.
The topicality of the present project is based on its contribution to the 2019 celebrations of the five hundredth anniversary of Leonardo’s death. The project also assumes a special significance for the Région Centre, since Leonardo spent there the last years of his life
Events organised by this fellow
Publications
Final reports
The activity was mainly addressed to study the scientific production of Leonardo da Vinci by means of an integrated approach that combines exact and human sciences. A huge interest was focused on dynamics, topic of great interest for Leonardo as it emerges in several points of his notebooks where he discussed relevant aspects of this physics branch and developed conceptions that evolved over the time. Within this general goal, the following specific issues have been also taken into account: i) recognition and comparative source analysis of the network of scholars, artisans and texts for a reconstruction of the cultural, scientific and technical framework in which Leonardo elaborated his concepts; ii) impact of the Leonardo’s work on the present research fields; iii) impact of the Leonardo’s work on the present educational field; iv) evaluation of the Leonardo’s work as an innovative tool for the “third culture” promotion. In this framework, the analysis of the Leonardo’s studies followed two driving lines: i) to place his findings in his time context and
ii) to establish connections with the current cultural approaches.
The activity has been carried out at the Centre d’Etudes Supérieures de la Renaissance (CESR) of Tours. The performed study has a great relevance for the valorisation of the Centre-Val de Loire region where Leonardo spent the last three years of his life.