Person: Delgado, João
João Delgado was a Portuguese mathematician, priest and architect. He made important contributions to the debate about the place of mathematics in a curriculum.
Mathematical Profile (Excerpt):
- The first fact that we know about Delgado (other than his place of birth) is that he entered the Society of Jesus (commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1574.
- This was an extremely important time in Delgado's mathematical development and Clavius's influence would be the basis of the contribution he made after returning to Portugal.
- In 1585 Delgado returned to Portugal with the intention of going to Brazil but, for some reason that is not known, the trip never happened.
- In 1589-90, Delgado was sent to Évora where the Jesuit University of Évora was operating.
- Although in Delgado's time there were only two universities in Portugal, there were other Jesuit colleges where elementary mathematics was taught.
- This mathematics teaching did not accomplish the need for many skilled navigators so, in 1590, Delgado was appointed to teach the Aula de Esfera, the Course of the Sphere, at the College of Santo Antão in a course available to both Jesuits and lay students.
- Delgado held this appointment until his death 22 years later, but he did not teach the Aula de Esfera continuously at the College of Santo Antão during these years.
- Delgado had a second position as the chief architect for Portugal.
- When Delgado was occupied with these architect's duties, the Aula de Esfera was delivered by Francisco da Costa (1567-1604) who was his assistant.
- In order to understand the significance of Delgado's contributions, we need to examine a little of the background to the position of mathematics at this time.
- We explained above that Delgado was in Rome, studying with Clavius, from 1576 to 1585 so we see that he was in Rome at just the time when this argument was raging.
- This, of course, illustrates the importance in the Portuguese context of the mathematician Delgado opposing the philosophers of Coimbra.
- We know in detail what Delgado taught in his 1605-06 Aula de Esfera since the text of that course survives.
- Delgado begins by citing the theses and arguments of the detractors of mathematics.
- Others argue, says Delgado, that mathematics does not proceed by any cause since mathematical causes are only metaphorical, and others do not accept that mathematical proofs proceed from their own principles.
- Then Delgado explains that his view of mathematics is completely the opposite of that presented by these detractors of mathematics.
- João Delgado is an example of the Collegio Romano's role in the formation of specialized core groups in the teaching and promotion of mathematics.
- By doing so, Delgado was one of the first Jesuit mathematicians to defend the scientificness of mathematics within a strict Aristotelian framework.
- The Jesuits of Coimbra reacted strongly to Delgado's strongly worded attack.
- Delgado, however, played an important role in this argument and deserves considerable praise for his defence of mathematics and its importance to other disciples, something which today is completely taken for granted.
- One other aspect of Delgado's contribution is important for the development of mathematics in Portugal, namely the small group of fellow mathematicians he built at the College of Santo Antão in Lisbon.
- No book by Delgado was ever published but it is known that he intended to write one.
- Clavius would have had to approve the final version of such a publication but, as far as we know, no text from Delgado ever reached him.
Born 1553, Lagos, Portugal. Died 30 September 1612, Coimbra, Portugal.
View full biography at MacTutor
Tags relevant for this person:
Astronomy, Origin Portugal
Thank you to the contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0! 
- Github:
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- non-Github:
- @J-J-O'Connor
- @E-F-Robertson
References
Adapted from other CC BY-SA 4.0 Sources:
- O’Connor, John J; Robertson, Edmund F: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
