Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Foucault, Jean Bernard Léon zhäN bĕrnärˈ lāôNˈ fo͞okōˈ [key], 1819–68, French physicist. Known especially for his research on the speed of light, he determined its velocity in air and fou...

(Encyclopedia) Foucault, Michel, 1926–84, French philosopher and historian. He was professor at the Collège de France (1970–84). He is renowned for historical studies that reveal the sometimes morally disturbin...

(Encyclopedia) Foucault pendulum: see pendulum. ...

(Encyclopedia) Buffet, Bernard bĕrnärˈ büfāˈ [key], 1928–99, French painter. Buffet's melancholy paintings are characterized by prominent black outlining and grayed, muddied colors. The subjects of his many ...

(Encyclopedia) Bernard, Saint: see Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint; Bernard of Menthon, Saint. For the two Alpine passes, see Saint Bernard. ...

(Encyclopedia) Bernard, Claude klōd bĕrnärˈ [key], 1813–78, French physiologist. He turned from literature to medicine, working in Paris under Magendie and teaching at the Collège de France and at the Sorbonn...

(Encyclopedia) Bosanquet, Bernard bōˈzənkĭt [key], 1848–1923, English philosopher, educated at Oxford. He lectured there (1871–81) and at St. Andrews (1903–8). His major works include A History of Aestheti...

(Encyclopedia) Bernard VII bĕrnärˈ [key], d. 1418, count of Armagnac, constable of France. As father-in-law of Charles d'Orléans he led the Armagnac faction (see Armagnacs and Burgundians) and from 1415 to 1418 ...

(Encyclopedia) Bernard of Cluny môrlāˈ [key], fl. 1150, French Cluniac monk, of English parentage. He wrote De contemptu mundi [on contempt for the world], a poem in 3,000 hexameters. On it Horatio Parker based h...

(Encyclopedia) Little Saint Bernard, pass: see Saint Bernard. ...