Lukáš Lička
Mgr. Lukáš Lička, Ph.D.
licka[at]flu.cas.cz
Education
Ph.D., Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava, 2016
Mgr., Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava, 2013
Bc., Latin Language and Culture, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava, 2013
Bc., Czech Language and Literature and Social Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava, 2011
Employment and Specialisation
Lukáš Lička has been working as a researcher at the Department for the Study of Ancient and Medieval Thought of the Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences, since 2018. Since 2021, he has been a research fellow in the ERC StG project ACADEMIA: Reconstructing Late Medieval Quests for Knowledge: Quodlibetal Debates as Precursors of Modern Academic Practice, led by Ota Pavlíček. Since 2024, he is the principal investigator of the project The Age of Peckham: The Role of John Peckham’s Perspectiva communis in the Dissemination and Development of Optical Knowledge, 1279–1542 funded by Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR).
His research focuses on medieval Latin philosophy and science (13th to 16th centuries), especially on medieval optical tradition (perspectiva), including its relations to Aristotelian natural philosophy and cognitive psychology, medieval geometry, and astronomy, as well as on medieval theories of sensory perception, disputation practice, and manuscript production at late medieval Faculties of Arts. On the basis of extensive manuscript research and textual analyses, he investigates two types of transfer in the intellectual history of late medieval universities: (1) ways of transfer of philosophical and scientific knowledge between disciplines (e.g., from optics to astronomy, and vice versa) and between genres (e.g., from university lectures and commentaries into disputation practice), and (2) cultural transfer of philosophical and scientific ideas, texts, and manuscripts from Western centres of university learning (Paris and Oxford) into Central Europe.
He is the recipient of the Otto Wichterle Award (2023), awarded by the Czech Academy of Sciences to outstanding young scientists, and the SIEPM Junior Scholar Award (2020), awarded by the Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale for publications on medieval philosophy.
Publications
Monographies and edited works
Středověké teorie vnímání a aktivita smyslů ve františkánském kontextu, Praha: Filosofia, 2021. [Medieval Theories of Perception and the Activity of Senses in the Franciscan Context, in Czech]
D. Heider, L. Lička, M. Otisk (eds.), Perception in Scholastics and Their Interlocutors, Praha: Filosofia, 2017. (= Filosofický časopis 2017/2)
Studies in English
“The Noblest Complexion: Semimaterialist Tendencies in a Late Medieval Bohemian Reading of John Wyclif”, Vivarium 61.3–4 (2023): 318–359.
“An Eastward Diffusion: The New Oxford and Paris Physics of Light in Prague Disputations, 1377–1409”, Recherches de Théologie et Philosophie Médiévales 89.2 (2022): 449–516.
“Shadows in Medieval Optics, Practical Geometry, and Astronomy: On a Perspectiva Ascribed to Thomas Bradwardine”, Early Science and Medicine 27.2 (2022): 179–223.
“Buridan Wycliffised? The Nature of the Intellect in Late Medieval Prague University Disputations”, in The Embodied Soul: Aristotelian Psychology and Physiology in Medieval Europe between 1200 and 1420, edited by M. Gensler, M. Mansfeld and M. Michałowska, Cham: Springer, 2022, 277–310. (Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99453-2_14)
“The Aims of Perspectiva in 1360s Paris: Investigating Texts Written in the Hand of Reimbotus de Castro”, in Books of Knowledge in Late Medieval Europe: Circulation and Reception of Popular Texts, edited by P. Cermanová and V. Žůrek, Turnhout: Brepols, 2021, 299–329.
“Studying and Discussing Optics at the Prague Faculty of Arts: Optical Topics and Authorities in Prague Quodlibets and John of Borotín’sQuaestio on Extramission”, in Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia, edited by O. Pavlíček, Turnhout: Brepols, 2021, 251–303. (Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SA-EB.5.122641)
“The Visual Process: Immediate or Successive? Approaches to the Extramission Postulate in 13th-Century Theories of Vision”, in Medieval Perceptual Puzzles: Theories of Sense-Perception in the 13th and 14th Centuries, edited by E. Baltuta, Leiden: Brill, 2020, 73–110.
“What is in the Mirror? The Metaphysics of Mirror Images in Albert the Great and Peter Auriol”, in Senses and the History of Philosophy, edited by B. Glenney and J. F. Silva, London: Routledge, 2019, 131–148.
“Attention, Perceptual Content, and Mirrors: Two Medieval Models of Active Perception in Peter Olivi and Peter Auriol”, in Perception in Scholastics and Their Interlocutors, eds. D. Heider, L. Lička, M. Otisk, (eds.), Praha: Filosofia, 2017, 101–119.
“Perception and Objective Being: Peter Auriol on Perceptual Acts and their Objects”, American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 90 (2016): 49–76.
Studies in Czech
“Pohled šlehající z očí: františkáni 13. století a Augustinova autorita v otázce extramisní teorie vidění”, in: P. Hlaváček et al., Proměny františkánské tradice: Od teologie a filosofie ke kultuře a umění , Praha: FF UK & Filosofia, 2019, pp. 68–92. [“Sight Darting Forth from the Eyes: 13th-Century Franciscans and Augustine’s Authority in the Issue of Extramissionist Theory of Vision”]
“Intencionalita a pojem poznání ve středověké filosofii”, Studia Neoaristotelica 15 (2018), Series Bohemoslovaca 3/2: 63–125. [“Intentionality and the Concept of Cognition in Medieval Philosophy”]
“Vnímání, kauzalita a pozornost: Roger Bacon a Petr Olivi”, Studia Neoaristotelica 13 (2016), Series Bohemoslovaca 1/1: 1–38. [“Sensation, Causality, and Attention: Roger Bacon and Peter Olivi”]
“Centrum a periferie v historiografii filosofie: Petr Olivi a středověká nauka o duši”, in Filosofie v provincii / Filozofia na prowincji, edited by A. Olech and M. Otisk, Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita, 2016, pp. 104–119. [“Centre and Periphery in the Historiography of Philosophy: Peter Olivi and the Medieval Science of Soul”]
“Co je člověk? Petr Auriol a role kognitivní psychologie ve středověké definici člověka”, in J. Herůfek (ed.), Pojetí důstojnosti člověka od antiky po současnost, Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita, 2015, pp. 55–78. [“What is the Human Being? Peter Auriol and the Role of Cognitive Psychology in the Medieval Definition of the Human Being”]
“Esse apparens a jeho role v Auriolově výkladu smyslového vnímání”, Filosofický časopis 62 (2014): 539–557. [“Esse apparens and its Role in Auriol’s Account of Sensory Perception”]
“Supozice mentálního termínu podle Viléma Ockhama”, Studia Neoaristotelica 9 (2012): 20–62. [“Supposition of Mental Term according to William of Ockham”]
Presentations at conferences (selection)
“Between Peckham and Buridan: Visual Representation in 15th-Century Vienna Disputations.” Conference Sight and Light in the Late Middle Ages (KU Leuven / University of Zürich / Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Leuven, June 2023.
“Optical Roots, Astronomical Fruits: Geometrical Optics and Astronomical Observations in Late Medieval Disputations in Paris and Leipzig.” The XVth International Congress of Medieval Philosophy: La pensée radicale au Moyen Age / Radical thinking in the Middle Ages ( IRHT CNRS, Paris / SIEPM). Paris, August 2022.
“Delving into the Oresmian Theory of the Rainbow Through a Preparation from Matthias of Knín’s Quodlibet.” Workshop 4th International Consultation on Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Doctrines, Methods and Sources (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Praha, June 2022.
“The Late ’70s at the Prague Faculty of Arts: Conrad of Soltau and Newly-Found Disputation Records from 1377.” Workshop The Modern Reading and Understanding of Medieval University Manuscripts (IRHT CNRS, Paris / University of Cyprus / Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Larnaca, Cyprus, April 2022.
“An Eastward Diffusion: The Intensity of Light from Nicole Oresme to Matthias of Knín.” Conference Studying the Arts in Medieval Bohemia II: Production, Reception and Transmission of Knowledge at the Arts Faculty of Prague University in the Middle Ages (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Praha, September 2021.
“The Noblest Complexion: Semi-materialist Tendencies in a Late Medieval Bohemian Reading of John Wyclif.” Conference Complexio: Across Times and Disciplines (Radboud University, Nijmegen). Nijmegen, February 2021 (online).
“Unravelling the Tangle of Tacit Borrowings: On Some Sources of the Anonymous Quaestio on the Nature of Intellect from the 1409 Prague Quodlibet.” Workshop 3rd International Consultation on Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Doctrines, Methods and Sources in the Prague Quodlibeta around 1409 (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Praha, September 2020 (online).
“On a Materialist Argument in Matěj of Knín and Prokop of Kladruby.” Workshop 2nd International Consultation on Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Doctrines, Methods and Sources in the Prague Quodlibeta around 1409 (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Prague, December 2019.
“Like a Body and Tunic? The Relation of the Intellect to the Body in Late Medieval Prague University Disputations.” Conference Mind and Body: Aspects of Medieval Natural Philosophy (University of Łódź). Łódź (PL), June 2019.
“A Buridanian Question on the Nature of the Intellect in the 1409 Prague Quodlibet.” Workshop Studying the Arts in Late Medieval Bohemia: Doctrines, Methods and Sources in the Prague Quodlibeta around 1409 (Dipartimento di Filosofia, Università degli Studi di Milano). Milano, December 2018.
“From Optics to Practical Geometry: On Perspectiva Ascribed to Thomas Bradwardine in Vat. lat. 3102.” Conference From Quadrivium to Natural Sciences: New Impulses in the Traditional Framework (University of Ostrava). Ostrava (CZ), November 2018.
“Two Anonymous Commentaries on Peckham’s Perspectiva communis, Written by the Hand of Reimbotus de Castro.” Conference Books of Knowledge and Their Reception: Circulation of Widespread Texts in Late Medieval Europe (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Prague, October 2018.
“What is in the Mirror? The Metaphysics of Mirror Images in Albert the Great, Peter Auriol and the Prague Quodlibet by Prokop of Kladbury (1417).” Invited lecture (Dipartimento di Filosofia, Università degli Studi di Milano). Milano, October 2017.
“Non sicut mus de foramine: Some 13th Century Approaches Towards the Extramissionist Explanation of Vision.” International conference Theories of Sense-Perception in the 13th and 14th Centuries (Humboldt Universität). Berlin, April 2017.
“Optics at the Prague Faculty of Arts in the Middle Ages: The Case of John of Borotin”, International conference Studying the Arts in Medieval Bohemia: Production, Reception and Transmission of Knowledge at the Arts Faculty of Prague University in the Middle Ages – 2nd Annual Meeting of Societas Artistarum (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences). Prague, December 2016.
“ Attention, Perceptual Content, and Mirrors: Two Medieval Models of Active Perception in Peter Olivi and Peter Auriol ”, International conference Issues of Perception between Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy (University of Ostrava). Ostrava (CZ), October 2016.
“ Peter Auriol and his Predecessors on the Identity of Species with Cognitive Act ”, International workshop Peter Auriol and his Vicinity (Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven). Leuven, June 2016.
“Unity and Diversity in Medieval Psychology”, International conference Unity and diversity of medieval (Central) Europe Social order and its cohesive and disruptive forces (Palacký University). Olomouc (CZ), April 2016.
“Peter Auriol on Categories, Relations, and Cognition”, Workshop on the History of Scholastic Logic (Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Philosophy). Prague (CZ), May 2015.
Invited Lectures (selection)
“Optics and Disputation Practice at the Vienna Faculty of Arts 1400-1450”, within the lecture series Codicology & Palaeography organised by Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Institut für Mittelalterforschung (Wien, January 2023, online).
“Optics and Natural Philosophy in Late Medieval Vienna: Manuscripts, Texts, Authors”,
Universität Wien, Institut für Historische Theologie (Wien, November 2022).
“What is in the Mirror? The Metaphysics of Mirror Images in Albert the Great, Peter Auriol and the Prague Quodlibet by Prokop of Kladbury (1417).” Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Filosofia (Milano, October 2017).
Grant Projects
2024–2026: Principal investigator of the project The Age of Peckham: The Role of John Peckham’s Perspectiva communis in the Dissemination and Development of Optical Knowledge, 1279–1542 (Czech Science Foundation, GA ČR 24-12752S; Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences).
2021–: Member of the research team of the ERC project ACADEMIA: Reconstructing Late Medieval Quests for Knowledge: Quodlibetal Debates as Precursors of Modern Academic Practice (Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, PI: Ota Pavlíček).
2019–2022: Member of the research team of the project Philosophy at the University of Prague around 1409: Matěj of Knín’s Quodlibet as a Crossroads of European Medieval Knowledge (Czech Science Foundation, GA ČR 19-16793S; Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, PI: Ota Pavlíček).
2018–2019: Post-doctoral project Medieval Optics, Sensory Perception and Science of Soul Between Paris, Oxford and Prague (1242–1411) at Czech Academy of Sciences.
2018–2020: Member of the research team of the institutional development project Construing the Otherness in Medieval Europe (University of Ostrava, Faculty of Arts).
2017: Member of the research team of the project Between Renaissance and Baroque: Philosophy and Knowledge in the Czech Lands within the Wider European Context (Czech Science Foundation, GA ČR 14-37038G; Palacký University, Olomouc).
2015–2017: Member of the research team of the institutional development project Collective Identity in the Social Networks of Medieval Europe (University of Ostrava, Faculty of Arts).
2014: Member of the research team of the institutional development project VIVARIUM – Centre for Research in Medieval Society and Culture (University of Ostrava, Faculty of Arts).
2014: Member of the research team of the project “Výzkumná síť teorie a dějin vědy” (Operational Programme, no. CZ.1.07/2.4.00/31.0108).
2013–2016: Member of the research teams of several projects in medieval studies (IGA Projects, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava).
Research Visits
2022/09–11: Wien, Universität Wien (prof. Thomas Prügl): an Ernst Mach fellow.
2014/01–02: Berlin, Humboldt-Universität (prof. Dominik Perler): one-month research stay.
Scholarships and Awards
Otto Wichterle Award (2023).
Ernst Mach Scholarship (OeAD) for a research stay at the University of Vienna (2022).
SIEPM Junior Scholar Award (2020).
Jan Hus Educational Foundation scholarship (2015).
Rector’s award for excellent study results (University of Ostrava, 2011).
Membership
Centre for Medieval Studies, Prague (a fellow since 2022).
Roger Bacon Research Society (a member since 2020).
Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale (a member since 2018).
Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy (a member since 2015).
Other Professional Activities
I have served as a referee for the following journals:British Journal for the History of Philosophy,Revista Española de Filosofía Medieval,Studi sull’aristotelismo medievale (secoli VI-XVI),Studia Neoaristotelica, Aithér,Bohemian Reformation and Religious Practice, Listy filologické/Folia philologica, Teorie vědy/Theory of Science.
