The Roger Bacon Society brings together scholars studying Bacon and cognate traditions. We encourage early-career researchers to explore this rich field. This page presents research suggestions suitable for different stages of academic work, from master’s dissertations to postdoctoral projects.
Each suggestion reflects interests and observations shared by members of the Society, pointing toward gaps or underdeveloped areas in Bacon studies. We hope these proposals will support researchers in identifying promising directions for future work. Contributors are happy to be contacted for discussion, where indicated.
We encourage all members of the society with further ideas to email them to Suf Amichay at sta34@cam.ac.uk
Contributors and Project Suggestions
Meagan S. Allen
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of the History of Science and Technology, Johns Hopkins University
Email: malle104@jh.edu
Under-examined areas
Possibly just my ignorance in coming at this from a history of science standpoint, but I want to know more about Bacon’s works on grammar, language, and translation. Historians of science know a lot about the matesis vs. mathesis issue in Bacon and how it relates to “magic,” but that’s really all that gets discussed in our circles.
Suggested projects
Probably more suited for a PhD dissertation than an MA thesis, but Bacon on the problems with current translations of Aristotle.
Current project
A new scholarly edition of Bacon’s (likely) Epistola de secretis operibus artis et naturae et de nullitate magiae, with English translation and introduction. The last version of the Epistola was produced by Brewer in 1859 and contains serious defects. Working towards completion in the next year or two. Happy to talk with anyone who is interested.
Supervision availability
Unfortunately no, not in current role.
Yael Kedar
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Tel Hai College
President, Roger Bacon Research Society
Email: yaelre@telhai.ac.il
Project suggestion
“Bacon’s discussion of material epicycles”
Bacon was probably the first in the Latin West to mention material epicycles and to perform a serious evaluation of their cosmological utility. Bacon’s account formed the basis of the later discussions of eccentrics and epicycles, by thinkers such as Duns Scotus, John of Jundun, Jean Buridan, and others. Eventually, Bacon rejected physical epicycles. However, it was his description of the physical system of epicycles that medieval natural philosophers most widely adopted.
Bacon’s discussion is found in the second book of the Communia naturalium (De celestibus), pp. 419–456, and in chapters 95–108 of the Opus tertium. It has hardly received scholarly attention thus far. This is unfortunate since his so-called “debate” over epicycles in the Opus tertium provides a useful survey of the variety of cosmological models available in the thirteenth century and the principal points of contention around them.
Hence, its reconstruction will prove valuable to any historical account of cosmological theories. Such a reconstruction is important also from a methodological perspective. Bacon was influenced by Ptolemy’s methodology in the introductory chapter to the Almagest, which combined experience and geometrical reasoning, and he applied it in his reading of Aristotle. Bacon rejected the instrumentalist approach (described by Duhem) and an analysis of his methodological commitments will offer a new perspective on Ptolemy’s influence on medieval science.
Supervision availability
Happy to discuss.
Nicola Polloni
Associate Professor of Medieval Philosophy, Department of Ancient and Modern Civilisations, University of Messina, Italy. Email: npolloni@unime.it
Under-examined areas
Roger Bacon’s metaphysics, especially his revision of the hylomorphic model. This is perhaps the most under-examined yet fundamental area of Bacon’s thought. Its clarification may substantially reshape our understanding of Bacon’s philosophy as a whole.
Suggested projects
Any aspect of Bacon’s metaphysics, including his theory of substance, hylomorphism, formal pluralism, material pluralism, and related topics.
Current project
Bacon as a central figure in the longue durée history of scholastic hylomorphism and theories of matter.
Supervision availability
Yes. Prospective candidates would need to apply to a doctoral school, but I would be very happy to support suitable applicants throughout the process.
Timothy Weldon
Professor of Philosophy, Department of Theology and Philosophy, University of St Francis, Joliet, Illinois
Email: tweldon@stfrancis.edu
Under-examined area
Bacon on place and geography.
Suggested projects
Bacon’s contribution to empiricism.
Bacon’s philosophy of language study.
Supervision availability
Not at the moment.
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