Editing Jean Buridan (section)

===Education and career===
[[Image:Aristotelis De anima.jpg|thumb|right|14th-century manuscript of Buridan's ''Questions on Aristotle's'' {{lang|la|[[De anima]]}}.]]

Buridan was born sometime before 1301, perhaps at or near the town of [[Béthune]] in [[Picardy]], [[France]],<ref name="Zupko 1">Zupko 2015, §1</ref> or perhaps elsewhere in the diocese of Arras.<ref>
{{cite book|editor1-last=Streijger|editor1-first=M.|editor2-last=Bakker|editor2-first=P.J.J.M.|editor3-last=Thijssen|editor3-first=J.M.M.H|title=John Buridan: Quaestiones Super Libros De Generatione et Corruptione Aristotelis. A Critical Edition with an Introduction|isbn=9789004185043|publisher=Brill|date=2010|page=1|quote=The often repeated tradition that he was born in the town of Béthune is spurious.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN55DwAAQBAJ&q=streijger+buridan+bethune&pg=PA1
}}</ref> He received his education in Paris, first at the [[Collège du Cardinal Lemoine]] and then at the [[University of Paris]], receiving his [[Master of Arts]] degree and formal license to teach at the latter by the mid-1320s.<ref name="Zupko 1"/>

Unusually, he spent his entire academic life in the faculty of arts, rather than obtaining the doctorate in [[law]], [[medicine]] or [[theology]] that typically prepared the way for a career in [[philosophy]].<ref name="Zupko 1"/> Also unusual for a philosopher of his time, Buridan further maintained his intellectual independence by remaining a [[Secular clergy|secular cleric]], rather than joining a [[religious order]]. A papal letter of 1330 refers to him as simply, "''clericus Atrebatensis diocoesis, magister in artibus'' [a cleric from the Diocese of Arras and Master of Arts]."<ref>Faral 1951, p. 11</ref> As university statutes permitted only those educated in theology to teach or write on the subject, there are no writings from Buridan on either theological matters or commentary of [[Peter Lombard]]'s ''[[Sentences]]''.<ref name="Zupko 1"/>

Speculation on his reasons for avoiding religious matters have remained uncertain.<ref>Zupko 2004, ch. 10</ref><ref>Courtenay 2002</ref><ref>Courtenay 2005</ref> Most scholars think it is unlikely that he went unnoticed, given his philosophical talents. As well, it is unlikely that he could not afford to study theology, given that he received several bursaries and stipends. Indeed, he is listed in a document from 1350 as being among the teachers capable of supporting themselves without the need for financial assistance from the University.<ref name="Zupko 1"/> John Alexander Zupko has speculated that Buridan "deliberately chose to remain among the 'artists [''artistae'']',"<ref name="Zupko 1"/> possibly envisioning philosophy as a secular enterprise based on what is evident to both the senses and the intellect, rather than the non-evident truths of theology revealed through scripture and doctrine.<ref name="Zupko 1"/>

The last appearance of Buridan in historical documents came in 1359, where he was mentioned as the adjudicator in a territorial dispute between the [[England|English]] and Picard nations.<ref name="Zupko 1"/> It is supposed that he died sometime after then, since one of his benefices was awarded to another person in 1362.<ref>Michael 1986, pp. 79–238 399–404</ref>

The [[bishop]] [[Albert of Saxony (philosopher)|Albert of Saxony]], himself renowned as a [[logician]], was among the most notable of his students.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

An ordinance of [[Louis XI of France]] in 1473, directed against the [[nominalism|nominalists]], prohibited the reading of his works.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}