Max Planck Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte

Matteo Valleriani

Research Scholar

Dr.

Residence: since October 15, 1998


Profile

Matteo Valleriani's research focuses on the history of mechanics from classical antiquity to late Renaissance. In particular, his research intends to determine the role of the relations between practical knowledge and technology on the one side, and theoretical knowledge on the other side, within the framework of the processes of emergence of new theoretical knowledge. The research is structured on four different levels. The first level is the epistemological level that aims at formulating an epistemic theory of practical knowledge. The second level concerns mechanisms of diffusion of practical knowledge and the consequences this diffusion has in different cultures, as well as the transmission over epochs. The third level refers to the relationship between practical knowledge and natural philosophy. Finally, the fourth level analyzes the inherent points of contact between practical and theoretical knowledge and explores the mechanisms of the processes of emergence of new scientific knowledge.

Matteo Valleriani's research moreover extends the implementation of the approach used to explore mechanisms of diffusion of knowledge also to studies dedicated to the role of Aristotelian knowledge in all cultures and epochs, in which this played a relevant role.


Selected publications

Matteo Valleriani. Metallurgy, Ballistics and Epistemic Instruments. The Nova scientia of Nicolò Tartaglia – A New Edition. Berlin: Edition Open Access, 2013.

Valleriani, Matteo. Galileo engineer. Dordrecht [u.a.]: Springer, 2010.

Valleriani, Matteo. "The transformation of Aristotle's 'Mechanical questions' : a bridge between the Italian Renaissance architects and Galileo's first new science. " Annals of Science 66 (2 2009)

Valleriani, Matteo. "The knowledge Agora : the role of the officials." In: Cultures of knowledge : technology in Chinese history, eds.: Schäfer, Dagmar. Leiden [u.a.]: Brill, 2012.

Matteo Valleriani. "Galileo's Abandoned Project on Acoustic Instruments at the Medici Court. " History of Science 50 (1 2012)

Talks and presentations

April 2013
Institute’s Colloquium, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin – The Renaissance Engineer’s Nature
December 2010
Mathematical Life in the Dutch Republic - The Lorentz Center. Leiden, The Netherlands – Practical and Theoretical Knowledge in Early Modern Italy
June 2010
Fabrique et usage du jardin du XIVe au XVIIe siècle. Centre d’Études Supérieures de la Renaissance, Tours, France – The Garden of Pratolino: Ancient Science on the Workbench of the Renaissance Engineer
January 2010
Evening lecture - Sternwarte Bruno H. Bürgel, Berlin – Galileo Engineer
December 2009
Research Colloquium organized by Klaus Hentschel - Universität Stuttgart, Dept. for History of Sicnce and Technology – Galileo Engineer

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Teaching activities

Summer Semester 2011
Place: Technische Universität, Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni, 135 – Proseminar: Technologie und Geometrie: die frühneuzeitliche Revolution der Kriegskunst
Winter Semester 2010/2011
Place: Technische Universität, Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni, 135 – Proseminar: Das Experiment: eine Reise in den wissenschaftlichen Salon Robert Boyles
September 2010
Internationa Summer School for the History of Science, Vinci (Italy) – 1) Levers and Balances in the Middle Age and in the Renaissance; 2) "Scientia de ponderibus" and its consequences in the Renaissance; 3) Galileo Engineer
Summer Semester 2010
Place: Technische Universität, Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni, 135 – Proseminar: Konzeptionen antiker Wissenschaft
Summer Semester 2010
Place: Technische Universität, Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni, 135 – Proseminar: Galileo Galilei: die frühneuzeitliche Wissenschaft und ihr Kontext

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