A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 1 (of 2) / During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

67792

Title

A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 1 (of 2) / During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Lynn Thorndike's seminal work chronicles the intricate fusion of magic and experimental science during the first thirteen centuries of our era. Focusing on the Roman Empire, the text explores how ancient figures like Pliny, Galen, and Ptolemy navigated the boundaries between natural observation, occult belief, and philosophical inquiry, offering a comprehensive view of the intellectual history that shaped the Middle Ages.

Summary up to 500 words

In *A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 1*, Lynn Thorndike investigates the intricate and often indistinguishable relationship between magic and science during the first thirteen centuries of our era, with a primary focus on the Roman Empire. Thorndike centers his analysis on three pivotal figures: Pliny the Elder, Galen, and Ptolemy, whose works serve as the chief sources for understanding the scientific spirit of their time and its profound influence on the Middle Ages. Thorndike begins by examining Pliny the Elder's *Natural History*, a vast encyclopedia that conflates empirical observation with magical superstition. He details how Pliny recorded remedies derived from herbs, animals, and stones, attributing their efficacy to occult virtues and sympathetic magic rather than purely natural causes. The text highlights Pliny's experimental tendencies, noting that chance experiences and divine revelations were frequently recorded alongside systematic medical experimentation. Thorndike further explores the works of Seneca and Ptolemy regarding natural divination and astrology, as well as Galen's specific attitudes toward magic within his medical contributions. The narrative expands to include applied science and magic through the essays of Plutarch, the mystical writings of Apuleius, and the life of Apollonius of Tyana by Philostratus. Thorndike addresses literary and philosophical attacks on superstition, the spurious mystic writings attributed to Hermes and Orpheus, and the influence of Neo-Platonism on theurgy. By tracing these threads, the book illuminates how magic and science were often a unified discipline in the minds of ancient scholars. This unity, characterized by the belief in the occult virtues of nature and the power of celestial portents, profoundly shaped medieval thought. Ultimately, Thorndike's work serves as a critical guide to the intellectual landscape of antiquity, revealing how the 'great names' of the Roman Empire directly or indirectly shaped the scientific spirit of subsequent centuries.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Science