User:Simo135/Franco Burgersdijk

Burgersdijk was born in De Lier. He was a student of Jacchaeus (Gilbert Jack). Burgersdijk finished his studies at the University of Leiden in 1610. He left to further study theology at the University of Saumur, where he became professor of philosophy in 1614. After five years he returned to Leiden, where he accepted the chair of logic and moral philosophy, and afterwards that of natural philosophy. He died in Leiden.

Life and Academic Career
Franco Burgersdijk was born in De Lier, Defland in the year 1590. After growing up on a farm, Burgersdijk attended Both the Latin School at Amersfoort (1604-1606) and the Delft Gynasium from (1606-1610). Shortly after, he decided to study theology at the University of Leiden. His growing interest in debate led him to become a mentee of Gisbertus Voetius, the vice principal of Staten Collegie. After finishing his education in Leiden, he further pursued his studies at the University of Saumur where he became a professor of philosophy in 1614. After the Armenian 'purification' in the universities of the Dutch republic, Burgerdijk relocated to Holland and became a professor of logic at the University of Leiden. He was later appointed as the chair of ethics and then exchanged it for the chair of philosophy.

Religious troubles and their effect on Burgerdijk's Academic Career
During the truce between the Dutch and Spanish army in 1609 followers of theology professor Jacob Armernius requested the States of Holland to review certain religious issues. These issues consisted of a series of conflicts between Armenians, followers of Jacob Armenius, and Gomarists, followers of Fransicus Gomarus. These conflicts arose due to different interpretations of the holy scripture.

Their debate was deeply entangled in Dutch politics for years. In 1608 conflicts escalated when the states general of the Federal Dutch state requested a synod at the opposition of Holland who supported the Armenians. In response the Province of Holland used their military power to restore order. However, this brought them into conflict with the Stadtholder Maurice, Prince of Orange who staged a coup and gained control of the entire country which ended the political skirmish. The religious conflict shortly ended after the international Synod of Dort ruled in favor of Goberists on May 9th 1619.

Due to the ruling all Arminianism was effectively removed from the Republic. The removal brought about openings at the University of Leiden. Burgerdijk saw this as an opportunity to go back to Holland. He was appointed a professorship in logic and was later promoted with also being appointed the chair of ethics. His Theological Education was completed in 1623.

In 1626 Burgersdijk was tasked with editing Johannes de Sacrobosco’s De sphaera to rid the book of its Latin.

Interest in Philosophy
Burgersdijkd participated in two disputes in 1623 and 1627 which involved the Aristotelian knowledge corpus on natural knowledge. His former professor and the chair of philosophy at the University of Leiden, Jacchaeus, quarreled with Burgersdijkd because he believed that Burgersdijkd was exceeding the limits of his specialty. After Jacchaeus's death in 1628, Burgersdijkd exchanged his chair of ethics for the chair of philosophy.

Although Burgersdijkd was known to believe in Aristotelian principles, he also believed in the birth of new stars and the supernatural effects of the heavens on the terrestrial world.

Works
Burgersdijkd was more known for his compendium on logic. He wrote the Institvtionvm logicarvm libri duo which emphasized order and method. He took inspiration from Aristotle but also followed Petrus Ramus’ methods.

Burgersdijkd's second compendium was of moral and political thought. This compendium was also heavily influenced by Aristotle.