Gaetano da Thiene (philosopher)

Gaetano da Thiene (1387–1465) was an Italian Renaissance philosopher and physician who lived in Padua.^[1]

Biography

A student of Paul of Venice, Gaetano, like his teacher, held an Averroist interpretation of Aristotle's teachings. He worked towards a compromise between that position and Christian doctrines on the personal immortality of the soul, and in later life he abandoned Averroism entirely.^[2]

He was one of Paul of Venice's successors as professor of natural philosophy at the University of Padua,^[2] and in turn, Nicoletto Vernia, who succeeded to the same position on Gaetano's death, was one of his pupils.^[3] Among his pupils was also Pietro Roccabonella, a well known professor of medicine in Padua.

He should not be confused with Saint Cajetan.