Honoré Fabri
Encyclopedia
Honoré Fabri (b. 1607 in Ain
, France
; d. at Rome
, 8 March 1688) was a French Jesuit theologian. He was a mathematician
, physicist
and controversialist.
at Avignon
, in 1626. For eight years he taught philosophy and for six years mathematics at the Jesuit college at Lyon
s, attracting many pupils. Called to Rome, he became the theologian of the court of the papal penitentiary in the Vatican
basilica, a position he held for thirty years.
The following are the more important of his publications:
This work was attacked by Stephanus Gradius, Prefect of the Vatican Library, in his "Disputatio de opinione probabili" (Rome, 1678; Mechlin, 1679).
This treats, in eleven dialogues, of probabilism
, explaining its true nature, and refuting the charges of its opponents. The Cologne edition was considerably enlarged but did not meet with ecclesiastical approbation; it was placed on the Index of forbidden books soon after its appearance.
The principles on which this work constructs its theological conclusions are far different from those of Aristotle.
Most of Fabri's other works deal with philosophy, mathematics, physics, astronomy, and even zoology, In his treatise on man he claims to have discovered the circulation of the blood, prior to William Harvey
, but after having investigated this question, Father Auguste Bellynck arrives at the conclusion that, at best, Father Fabri may have made the discovery independently of Harvey.
Ain
Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; d. at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 8 March 1688) was a French Jesuit theologian. He was a mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and controversialist.
Life
He entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
at Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, in 1626. For eight years he taught philosophy and for six years mathematics at the Jesuit college at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
s, attracting many pupils. Called to Rome, he became the theologian of the court of the papal penitentiary in the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
basilica, a position he held for thirty years.
Works
Sommervogel mentions thirty-one titles of published works in connection with Fabri's name, besides fourteen of his productions in manuscript, in the Library of Lyons.The following are the more important of his publications:
- "Pithanophilus, seu dialogus vel opusculum de opinione probabili," etc. (Rome, 1659).
This work was attacked by Stephanus Gradius, Prefect of the Vatican Library, in his "Disputatio de opinione probabili" (Rome, 1678; Mechlin, 1679).
- "Honorati Fabri, Societatis Jesu, apolgeticus doctrinæ moralis ejusdem Societatis (Lyons, 1670; Cologne, 1672).
This treats, in eleven dialogues, of probabilism
Probabilism
In theology and philosophy, probabilism refers to an ancient Greek doctrine of academic skepticism. It holds that in the absence of certainty, probability is the best criterion...
, explaining its true nature, and refuting the charges of its opponents. The Cologne edition was considerably enlarged but did not meet with ecclesiastical approbation; it was placed on the Index of forbidden books soon after its appearance.
- "Una fides unius Ecclesiæ Romanæ contra indifferentes hujus sæculi tribus librus facili methodo asserto" (Dillingen, 1657).
- "Summula theologica in quâ quæstiones omnes alicujus momenti, quæ a Scholasticus agitari solent, breviter discutiuntur ac definiuntur" (Lyons, 1669).
The principles on which this work constructs its theological conclusions are far different from those of Aristotle.
- "Euphiander seu vir ingeniosus", (Lyons, 1669; Vienna, 1731; Budapest, 1749; Ofen, 1763).
Most of Fabri's other works deal with philosophy, mathematics, physics, astronomy, and even zoology, In his treatise on man he claims to have discovered the circulation of the blood, prior to William Harvey
William Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
, but after having investigated this question, Father Auguste Bellynck arrives at the conclusion that, at best, Father Fabri may have made the discovery independently of Harvey.