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'''William of Sherwood''' (or Shyreswood, Shireswood) (c1190 – c. 1266), was a [[medieval]] [[English people|English]] [[logician]] and teacher. 

| name = [[Person_First_Name:=William]] [[Person_Last_Name:=Sherwood]]

| birth_place = [[Birth_Country_Name:=England]]

| death_date = [[Death Date:= ]]

| death_place = [[Death_City:=]], [[Death_Country_Name:=]]  

Little is known of his life, but he is thought to have studied at the [[University of Paris]], as a master at [[Oxford University (Medieval)|Oxford university]] in 1252, and that he was treasurer of [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] from 1254/8 onwards, and a [[rector]] of [[Aylesbury]].   

 

Little is known of his life, but he is thought to have studied in [[University of Paris|Paris]], as a master at [[Oxford]] in 1252, treasurer of [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] from 1254/8 onwards, and a [[rector]] of [[Aylesbury]].   

He was the author of two books which were an important influence on the development of [[Scholastic logic]]: ''Introductiones in Logicam'' (Introduction to Logic), and ''Syncategoremata''.  These are the first known works to deal in a systematic way with what is now called [[supposition theory]], known in William's time as the ''logica moderna''.

He was the author of two books which were an important influence on the development of [[Scholastic logic]]: ''Introductiones in Logicam'' (Introduction to Logic), and ''Syncategoremata''.  These are the first known works to deal in a systematic way with what is now called [[supposition theory]], known in William's time as the ''logica moderna''.

== Life ==

== Life ==

William was probably born in Nottinghamshire, between 1200 and 1210.  In common with many educated English men of that time, he may have studied at [[Oxford university]] or the [[University of Paris]], or both.  There are examples in his logical work which suggest he was a master at Paris.  (For example 'No man lectures at Paris unless he is an ass' / 'Whatever runs has feet, the Seine runs, ergo the Seine has feet').  Further evidence that he lectured in Paris is that those logicians who were influenced by his work also worked in Paris, such as [[Peter of Spain]] (around 1245), and [[Lambert of Auxerre]] (around 1250).

William was probably born in Nottinghamshire, between 1200 and 1210.  In common with many educated English men of that time, he may have studied at the medieval [[Oxford University (Medieval)|Oxford university]] or the [[University of Paris]], or both.  There are examples in his logical work which suggest he was a master at Paris.  (For example 'No man lectures at Paris unless he is an ass' / 'Whatever runs has feet, the Seine runs, ergo the Seine has feet').  Further evidence that he lectured in Paris is that those logicians who were influenced by his work also worked in Paris, such as [[Peter of Spain]] (around 1245), and [[Lambert of Auxerre]] (around 1250).

He is thought to have become treasurer of [[Lincoln Cathedral]] some time in the 1250s.  The treasurer was one of the four principal officers of the English cathedrals whose duty was to keep the treasures of the church, the gold and silver vessels, ornaments, relics, jewels, and altar cloths.  He would have had a personal residence in the Cathedral close, would have employed a deputy and a large staff, and therefore could be absent as long as he performed those duties that could not be delegated (source: Edwards).

He is thought to have become treasurer of [[Lincoln Cathedral]] some time in the 1250s.  The treasurer was one of the four principal officers of the English cathedrals whose duty was to keep the treasures of the church, the gold and silver vessels, ornaments, relics, jewels, and altar cloths.  He would have had a personal residence in the Cathedral close, would have employed a deputy and a large staff, and therefore could be absent as long as he performed those duties that could not be delegated (source: Edwards).

He is mentioned by [[Roger Bacon]], also a Master at Paris, as one of 'the more famous wise men of Christendom' one of whom is [[Albertus Magnus]], another of whom is master William of Sherwood, 'the treasurer of the church of Lincoln in England, who is much wiser than Albert'.  (Brewer, transl. Kretzmann).

He is mentioned by [[Roger Bacon]], also a Master at Paris, as one of 'the more famous wise men of Christendom' one of whom is [[Albertus Magnus]], another of whom is master William of Sherwood, 'the treasurer of the church of Lincoln in England, who is much wiser than Albert'.  (Brewer, transl. Kretzmann).

== Work ==

== Work ==

William's main work is a small logic manual, ''Introductiones in logicam''.  It survives in a single manuscript probably written in the late thirteenth century, headed 'Introductiones Magistri Guilli. De Shyreswode in Logicam', (''[[Bibliotheque Nationale]], Cod. Lat.'' 16617, formerly ''Codex Sorbonnensis'' 1797).  It did not appear fully in print until 1937, in Grabman's Latin edition, and was not translated into English until 1966, by Kretzmann.  No other works than are definitely by him have ever been printed.

William's main work is a small logic manual, ''Introductiones in logicam''.  It survives in a single manuscript probably written in the late thirteenth century, headed 'Introductiones Magistri Guilli. De Shyreswode in Logicam', (''[[Paris Bibliotheque Nationale Lat.|Bibliotheque Nationale]], [[Directory:Logic Museum/Paris. B. Nat. lat. 16617|Cod. Lat. 16617]]'', formerly ''Codex Sorbonnensis'' 1797).  It did not appear fully in print until 1937, in Grabman's Latin edition, and was not translated into English until 1966, by Kretzmann.  No other works than are definitely by him have ever been printed.

The book consists of Six Chapters.  Five of these are expositions of Aristotle's main logical works, as follows: 1.  'Statements', corresponding to ''[[De Interpretatione]]'', 2. 'The Predicables', corresponding to ''[[Categories (Aristotle)|Categories]]'', 3.  'Syllogism', corresponding to ''[[Prior Analytics]]'', 4. 'Dialectical Reasoning' corresponding to ''[[Topics (Aristotle)|Topics]]'', and 6. 'Sophistical Reasoning' corresponding to ''[[Sophistical Refutations]]''.  However, Chapter 5, 'Properties of Terms', contains material that is not in Aristotle, but is a distinctively medieval development, ([[Supposition theory]]) that deals with the semantics of propositions.  The theory attempts to explain how the truth of simple sentences, expressed schematically, depend on how the terms 'supposit' or ''stand for'' certain extra-linguistic items, and tries to address the problem of sentential forms, like 'I promise you a horse', which do not appear to fit the standard syllogistic forms.   

The book consists of Six Chapters.  Five of these are expositions of Aristotle's main logical works, as follows: 1.  'Statements', corresponding to ''[[De Interpretatione]]'', 2. 'The Predicables', corresponding to ''[[Categories (Aristotle)|Categories]]'', 3.  'Syllogism', corresponding to ''[[Prior Analytics]]'', 4. 'Dialectical Reasoning' corresponding to ''[[Topics (Aristotle)|Topics]]'', and 6. 'Sophistical Reasoning' corresponding to ''[[Sophistical Refutations]]''.  However, Chapter 5, 'Properties of Terms', contains material that is not in Aristotle, but is a distinctively medieval development, ([[Supposition theory]]) that deals with the semantics of propositions.  The theory attempts to explain how the truth of simple sentences, expressed schematically, depend on how the terms 'supposit' or ''stand for'' certain extra-linguistic items, and tries to address the problem of sentential forms, like 'I promise you a horse', which do not appear to fit the standard syllogistic forms.   

=== Manuscripts ===

=== Manuscripts ===

==Secondary sources ==

==Secondary sources ==

* Brewer, S.J. Preface to his edition of Bacon's ''Opus Tertium''.

* Brewer, S.J. Preface to his edition of Bacon's ''Opus Tertium''.

* Edwards, K., ''The English Secular Cathedrals in the Middle Ages'', Manchester 1949.

* Edwards, K., ''The English Secular Cathedrals in the Middle Ages'', Manchester 1949.

* [[William Kneale (logician)|Kneale, William]] & Martha Kneale. ''Development of Logic'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962)

* [[William Kneale (logician)|Kneale, William]] & Martha Kneale. ''Development of Logic'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962)

* [[Norman Kretzmann|Kretzmann, N.]], 'William of Sherwood's Introduction to Logic'', Minneapolis 1966.

* [[Norman Kretzmann|Kretzmann, N.]], 'William of Sherwood's Introduction to Logic'', Minneapolis 1966.

== Links ==

== Links ==

[[Category:Philosophers]]

[[Category:Philosophers]]