PPT Slide
Buridan, Jean (1300-58), French Scholastic philosopher, who held a theory of determinism, contending that the will must choose the greater good. Born in Bethune, he was educated at the University of Paris, where he studied with the English Scholastic philosopher William of Ockham. After his studies were completed, he was appointed professor of philosophy, and later rector, at the same university. Buridan is traditionally but probably incorrectly associated with a philosophical dilemma of moral choice called "Buridan's ass." In the problem an ass starves to death between two alluring bundles of hay because it does not have the will to decide which one to eat.