Alessandro Achillini was an Italian philosopher and physician. He is noted for being a famous teacher (Magnus Achillinus) and a man of independent critical judgment, who advocated the teachings of William of Ockham.
Background
Ethnicity:
Alessandro Achillini was a member of an old family of Bologna.
Achillini was born on October 20, 1463 in Bologna and lived there the majority of his life. He was the son of Claudio Achillini, member of an old family of Bologna.
Education
Achillini was a graduated doctor of philosophy and of medicine from the University of Bologna in 1484.
Career
Alessandro Achillini was graduated doctor of philosophy and of medicine from the University of Bologna in 1484, whereupon he was appointed substitute lecturer of philosophy and began teaching when he was 21 years old. After 1495 he taught medicine also. In addition, Achillini’s was well versed in theology. His initial designs indicate an interest in entering the priesthood. He appears to have begun his seminar studies prior to 1476; the year he entered the tonsure at the Cathedral of Bologna. And though he later shifted his focus to academia, he remained an active theologian throughout his life and contributed to two General Congresses of the Franciscan Order; one in Bologna in 1494 and another held in Rome between 1505 and 1506.
In 1506 he was obliged to leave Bologna, owing to the expulsion of the powerful Bentivoglio family, of whom he was a partisan. He went to Padua, where he was appointed teacher of philosophy. (It is possible that he had taught at Padua before 1506.) During the months of December–March 1506 – 1507 Achillini did not meet the requirement for reading, to which he was penalized 351 Bolognese Lire. Achillini also received two strongly-worded letters in August and September 1507 from the Commune of Bologna stating that his absence was unauthorized, and if it continued he would be penalized severely (500 ducats of gold for the first offense). In 1508 the regents of the University of Bologna requested Achillini to return. He did so and taught there for three years. Achillini attended many doctoral committees as a member for the examination and approval of candidates. There are records of him attending at least ninety times to these proceedings. The proceedings are doctoral examinations or elections of new members to the Company of Collegiate Doctors.
Achillini died in 1512 and was buried in the Church of Saint Marlin, in Bologna.
Religion
Achillini remained an active theologian throughout his life and contributed to two General Congresses of the Franciscan Order.
Views
A famous teacher (Magnus Achillinus) and a man of independent critical judgment, Achillini first demonstrated some mistakes of Galen. Among the Italian pre-Vesalian anatomists (Alessandro Benedetti, Gabriele Zerbi, Berengario da Carpi, and Niccolo Massa) the influence of Achillini’s work was slight, chiefly because his works were not illustrated and he used an obscure medieval terminology derived largely from Mondino’s texts and heavily sprinkled with Arabic terms.
Personality
Achillini possessed quite a lively disposition. According to a colleague's description, he was handsome, tall but well proportioned, cheerful, happy, often smiling, and affable.