* The tale of “Buridan’s ass” is not found in his extant works, but is a tradition of respectable age; it may have occurred in one of his lectures. Jean had argued that the will, on fronting alternatives, is compelled to choose whichever the intellect judges the more advantageous. Consequently, some wit concluded, a hungry ass placed at equal distances from two equally attractive bales of hay would have no reason for preferring either, and—other food lacking—would starve to death.

* Cf. The Renaissance , pp. 534–7.