ABSTRACT
In order to be able to appreciate Gorlaeus’ place in the intellectual landscape of the opening years of the seventeenth century, and to assess his possible contribution to the history of philosophy and science, we must first acquaint ourselves with his ideas. Since his works are in Latin, and no one has ever provided a detailed synthesis of their contents, it is inevitable that we ignore the traditional order of presentation and begin with a synopsis of his thought before reconstructing his life.
