ZIMARA, MARCO ANTONIO. – Philosopher and physician, born in S. Pietro in Galatina (Lecce) in 1460, died in Padua in 1523.
Zimara’s works occupy a prominent place in the Averroist culture of the Paduan school. In addition to useful glossaries such as the *Tabula et dilucidationes in dicta Aristotelis et Averrois* and the *Theorema* on memorable propositions, he wrote *Libros tres Aristotelis De anima commentarii* (Venice 1533), in which he attempts a Christian reconciliation of the various doctrines concerning the immortality (v.) and individuality of the soul. He polemicizes with the realistic interpretations of Aristotle and frames the relationship between sense and intellect in a Platonic manner, the former seen as a passive faculty, the latter as having a nature that is «effetrix». In the glosses to the *Questiones super parvis naturalibus* of Giov. Gianduno, he posits form as the principle of individuation (v.) and of the indivisibility of the individual (v.). He also dealt with problems concerning medicine. He compiled a vast collection of remedies, the *Antrum magicum medicum*, etc., in which he combines magical-astrological speculations with religious and eschatological intuitions.