BURIGNY
79
BURKE
choice. (Here, probably, the opponent introduced
the example of the ass, to ridicule Buridan's po-
sition.") The will, however, has still an expedient.
It can postpone its decision, direct the intellect to
consider one alternative only, and when the other
alternative, even though it be better (higher), has
dropped out of consciousness, the will can come
to a decision and choose, if, indeed, its act can now
be called a choice at all. Buridan, therefore, main-
tains that in a conflict of motives the stronger
motive always prevails — the will is "determined"
by the strongest motive. He is not a voluntarist.
The will, he says, is inferior to the intellect, because
the former presupposes the action of the latter,
and depends on it. And it is by means of the
intellect, and not by means of the will, that man
lays hold of supreme happiness.
Stockl, Gesch. der Phil, des Mittelnlters (Mainz, 1865), II, 1023 sii.).; In., l.ehrh. der Gcsch. der I'hil. (Mainz. 18S8). I. 478; tr. Finlay (Dublin, 1903). 4L>7; Tirner, Hist, of Phil. (Boston, 1903). 408; Ueberweg. Gesch. der Phil. (Berlin, 1905), II. 347; tr. Morris (New York, 1890), I, 405.
William Turner.
Burigny, Jean- Levbsqdb de, historian, b. at Reims, 1692; d. at Paris, 1785. In 1713, with his brothers, Champeaux and LeVesque de Pouilly, he began to compile a dictionary of universal knowledge, a kind of encyclopedia, which comprised twelve large manuscript folios, and afforded Burigny ample material for his subsequent works. In 1718, at The Hague, he worked with Saint-Hyacinthe on "L'Eu- ropesavante", in twelve volumes, of which he contrib- uted at least one-half. On his return to Paris, he devoted his time to historical research and published several works which stamped him as a conscientious scholar. Burigny. although sharing the ideas of the philosophers of his time, was by no means an extremist. He was a modest, peace-loving man, whose only ambition was to be a scholar, and his works show a great amount of learning; some, for instance his lives of Grotius and Erasmus, give very interesting data ool elsewhere found. Among his works arc: "Traits de l'autorite du pape" (Paris, 1782) which reduces papal authority to a primacy of honour, "Theologie paienne" (Paris. 17-"i4); "His- toire geiierale de Sicile" (The Hague. 1 745) J "His- toire des revolutions de l'empire de Constantinople" (The Hague, 1750); "Traite" de Porphyre touchant 1'abstinence de la chair, avec la vie de Plotin" (tr. from Greek; Paris. 1740); "Vie de Bossuet" (Paris, 1761); "Vie du cardinal Duperron" (Paris, 1768).
Dacier, Eloge de Buri,,im .Paris 1780:; Wai.ckenaer, RecueU ./■ notices historiquet (Paris, 1850); Constant™, in Diet, de thiol, r.ilt., II, 1264-65.
Pierre J. Marique.
Burkard. Franz, the name of two celebrated German jurists. One died suddenly at Ham. 9 De- cember, 1539. He began to teach canon law at the University of [ngoldstadl in 1519, where he stoutly opposed every endeavour to introduce Lutheranism. In the trial which sentenced Andreas Seehofer, who had taught the new doctrine, to retire to a monastery, Franz and his brother Peter, a professor at the same institution, were the chief prosecutors. As this action was resented by the Lutherans, he defended himself before the university with John Eck and Hauer. The other d. at Bonn, 6 August, 1.584. For many years he served the Bavarian chancellor, Vugust lorf , as legal adviser. Later the Elector of Cologne, Ernesl or Bavaria, made him his
private counsellor and chancellor. His stanch de- fence of Catholicity merited the prai e of Blessed Peter Canisius. To quell the religious war resulting from the declaration ol or Protestant
worship, a volume over his name. "De Autonomic", appeared at Munich in 1586. Its real author, the private secretary of the king, Andreas F.rstenberger, in order to save his name, position, and family, was
induced by William V of Bavaria to conceal his
identity behind the name of the deceased Burkard,
as Rudolph II would not countenance any opposition
to the Protestants. This book was bitterly assailed
by Protestants, but its main positions have not been
refuted.
Prantl, Geschiehte der Universitdt in Ingoldstadt. etc., I, passim; Sohreiber. Geschiehte Bauerns. II, 587; JanNSEN, Geschichte des deutschen Yolkes, V, 421-428.
Thos. M. Schwertner.
Burke, Edmund, first Vicar Apostolic of Nova Sco- tia, b. in the parish of Maryborough, County Kildare, Ireland, in 1753; d. at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1820. He was compelled by existing political conditions in Ireland to pursue his studies in Paris, where his tal- ents and character gave promise of his future career. Ordained priest, he returned to his native diocese. Here trouble had just arisen over the appointment of a vicar-general, and Father Burke was blamed by some partisans for espousing the cause of his superior. The unpleasant conditions led young Burke to follow the advice of Dr. Carpenter, Archbishop of Dublin, and go to Canada. He arrived in Quebec in the sum- mer of 17S6, and in September of that year was made professor of philosophy and mathematics in the semi- nary of Quebec. His work in the seminary led to his appointment as a director of that institution, but he craved for missionary work north and west of the Great Lakes, where, in scattered villages, there were many Catholics who had not seen a missionary since the conquest (1759). In 1794 he gained his object and was sent into the missionary field with the title of Vicar-General and Superior of the Missions of I"pper Canada. For seven years he laboured faithfully, en- during all the hardships of a pioneer missionary priest ; and he suffered, too, from lack of sympathy and sup-
Eort in his work. He saw clearly and made known to is ecclesiastical superiors the loss to religion result- ing from race prejudices and misunderstandings. His plain statements made in the cause of religion and truth brought him enemies and many accusations. He met them fearlessly and these trials but prepared him for his important work of the future as Vicar- | leneral of Nova Scotia, i. e. the ecclesiastical direc- tion of most of the English-speaking population of Canada. He went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as Vicar- General of Quebec in 1801 , was made Vicar-General of Nova Scotia in 1815, and consecrated Bishop of Zion in 1818. The work done by this prelate for religion, for education, and for the State in Nova Scotia, dur- ing the first twenty years of the nineteenth century are fully treated in the work (quoted below) of one of his successors. The Protestant historian Campbell thus closes his biographical sketch of Bishop Burke: "The Dominion of Canada in its wide extent has seen few, if any, of its prelates who died more respected and regretted by all classes; more beloved and idol- ized by his own flock; and whose memory as a great, enlightened, and liberal-minded prelate is looked up tn with so much veneration." His most important writings are "The First Principles of Christianity" and "The Ministry of the Church" (Dublin, 1817).
O'Brien (Archbishop of Halifax). Memoirs of Bishop Burke
(Ottawa, 1894); Casgrain. ifemoire tur Irs Missirms de la
■ Ecosse, du Cap Breton el de Vile du Prince Edouarddc
t780 ' ISeO; Reponse nuz "Memoirs of Bishop Burke" par
O'Brien (Quebec. 1895); Mirdock, History of Nova
Halifax 1867 219 121 161; Campbell, Nova Scotia
in its Historical, M<rroutile. <n>j lu.lu strial Relations (Montreal,
1873 . Boi amor, Builders aj Nova Scotia,
Alexander McNeil.
Burke, M \t-rice. See St. Joseph, Diocese of.
Burke, Thomas. See Albany, Diocese of.
Burke (De Burgo), Thomas, Bishop of Ossory, b. at Dublin. Ireland, aboul 1709; d. at Kilkenny, 25 September, 1776. He went to Rome in 1723 and there was placed under the care of his namesake and kinsman, a Dominican, Father Thomas Burke,
