Bruno, Giordano (jōrdä´nō br´nō), 1548-1600, Italian
philosopher, b. Nola. The son of a professional soldier, he
entered the Dominican order early in his youth and was ordained
a priest in 1572, but he was accused of heresy and fled (c.1576)
to take up a career of study and travel. He taught briefly at
several cities including Toulouse, Paris, Oxford, and
Wittenberg, but, personally restless and in constant opposition
to the traditional schools, he found no permanent post. He was
particularly known for his prodigious memory, and at times
taught mnemonic technique. His major metaphysical works, De la
causa, principio, et uno (1584, tr. The Infinite in Giordano
Bruno, 1950) and De l'infinito, universo et mondi (1584), were
published in France. Further works appeared in England and
Germany. Bruno also wrote satire and poetry. In 1591 he returned
to Venice, where he was tried for heresy by the Inquisition.
After further trial and imprisonment at Rome, he was burned to
death. Bruno challenged all dogmatism, includ