What were the key ideas of Jean Buridan?

Jean Buridan was a prominent medieval philosopher known for his contributions to logic and metaphysics. His key ideas can be summarized as follows:

1. Nominalism: Buridan was a proponent of nominalism, which is the belief that universals or abstract concepts do not have an independent existence outside of the mind. According to Buridan, only individual objects or particular instances exist in reality, and general concepts are merely names or mental constructs.

2. Theory of Impetus: Buridan developed the theory of impetus, which was an early precursor to the modern concept of inertia. He proposed that a moving object possesses an impetus, a force that keeps it in motion until it is acted upon by an external force. This theory challenged the Aristotelian view that motion requires a continuous force.

3. Free Will: Buridan defended the concept of free will, arguing that human beings have the ability to make choices and are not determined by fate or divine predestination. He believed that individuals have the power to act independently and are responsible for their own actions.

4. Ockham's Razor: Buridan applied the principle of Ockham's Razor, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the best, to philosophical and scientific inquiries. He emphasized the importance of parsimony and advocated for eliminating unnecessary assumptions or entities when constructing explanations or theories.

Overall, Jean Buridan's key ideas revolved around nominalism, the theory of impetus, free will, and the application of Ockham's Razor in philosophical and scientific reasoning.