MEDIEVAL CONTROVERSY ABOUT ODOR

Medieval scholars debated whether odor was transmitted through a mediu m as suggested by Aristotle or by fumes or vapors from the odoriferous object as suggested by Plate. Key evidence believed to support Aristo tle's theory was the behavior of birds in detecting carrion from far a way. The medieval approach to this essentially secular controversy was , nevertheless, similar to that used in issues thinkers of that time r egarded as of more importance.