Psychological Characters in Vicente de Beauvais (1190-1264)

Abstract

Click This paper analyses the hippocratic-galenic theory concerning the complexions, humours, temperaments and psychological characters in medieval scholasticism, particularly as it is manifested in the work of Vincent of Beauvais The handling of these aspects is discussed in Vincent of Beauvais's Speculum maius (1244-1257), particularly in two of its most relevant sections: book XXXI of his Speculum naturale and books XII and XIII of his Speculum doctrinale. These books have not been translated into contemporary languages and are practically unknown in our historiographical area, but have a rich bibliographical background which shows how Beauvais's encyclopaedia approach provided a firm bridge from the naturalist tradition of Greek and Roman antiquity to Renaissance psychology, building on Graeco-Arabic science. This is a subject of extraordinary importance for both psychology and education, and one which has long deserved the attention of historians. The present study endeavours to redress this situation.