Functionalism and Caprice in Stonecutting. The Case of the Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral

Starting from the inaugural text of Philibert de L'Orme, stereotomic treatises and manuscripts are subject to the opposing forces of reason and fancy. The Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral provides an outstanding case study on this subject. It was built in 1571-1582 by Martín de Bérriz and Martín de la Haya, using an oval vault resting on trumpet squinches to span a rectangular bay. Bed joints and rib axes are not planar curves, as usual in oval vaults. This warping is not capricious; we shall argue that it is the outcome of a systematic tracing method. As a result of this process, the slope of the bed joints increases slightly in the first courses, but stays fairly constant after the third course; this solution prevents the upper courses from slipping. Thus, in the Nativity Chapel of Burgos Cathedral, the constraints of masonry construction fostered a singular solution verging on capriccio. It is also worthwhile to remark that the warping of the joints is not easily appreciable to the eye and that the tracing process does not seem to start from a previous conception of the resulting form. All this suggests that we should be quite careful when talking about the whimsical character of Late Gothic and Early Renaissance; in some occasions, apparent caprice is the offspring of practical thinking.

Linguistic Knowledge of Reality: A Metaphysical Impossibility?

Reality contains information (significant) that becomes significances in the mind of the observer. Language is the human instrument to understand reality. But is it possible to attain this reality? Is there an absolute reality, as certain philosophical schools tell us? The reality that we perceive, is it just a fragmented reality of which we are part? The work that the authors present is an attempt to address this question from an epistemological, linguistic and logical-mathematical point of view.

The soul in metaphysical and empirical psychology /

Translation based upon the German edition of the author's Het zielsbegrip in de metaphysische en empirische psychologie.

The problem of metaphysics and the meaning of metaphysical explanation: an essay in definitions.

Mode of access: Internet.

The reputation of the metaphysical poets during the age of Johnson and the romantic revival /

Cover title

Scientific fact and metaphysical reality,

Science and metaphysics.--Forms of mental apprehension.--Physical individuation.--The principle of life.--Formation of mind.--Psychophysical interaction.--Mind in man.--The ideal instincts.--Ether, matter, and mind.--God and the absolute.--Appendix on Haekel.

Metaphysical elements in sociology /

Reprinted from The American journal of sociology, vol. x, nos. 3, 4, Dec.-Jan., 1904-5.

Physical and metaphysical inquiries.

Mode of access: Internet.

Metaphysical essays : containing the principles and fundamental objects of that science /

Includes bibliographical references.

Principles of natural and metaphysical philosophy : intended on a more ancient, common-sense, and popular plan, and more consistent also with later improvements that the Cartesian or Newtonian : comprimising a review of prevailing systems now taught ...

Errata: p. [vii]

Remarks on mathematical or demonstrative reasoning; its connexion with logic; and its application to science, physical and metaphysical, with reference to some recent publications.

Mode of access: Internet.

A general view of the progress of metaphysical, ethical, and political philosophy : since the revival of letters in Europe. In two dissertations. /

Contains: Dissertation first: exhibiting a general view of the progress of metaphysical, ethical and political philosophy...PART II