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

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Gutenberg ID

67330

Title

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

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Lynn Thorndike's scholarly volume delves into the complex dating of Adelard of Bath's treatises, *De eodem et diverso* and *Questiones naturales*. The text analyzes historical clues, royal dedications, and Adelard's travels to reconstruct the timeline of his intellectual journey from Gaul to Sicily and the Arab world, offering insight into the intersection of magic and experimental science in the 12th century.

Summary up to 500 words

This appendix from Lynn Thorndike's *A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 2* addresses the complex chronological problem surrounding two seminal works by the twelfth-century scholar Adelard of Bath: *De eodem et diverso* and *Questiones naturales*. Thorndike investigates the difficulty of determining which treatise was composed first, noting that neither text explicitly references the other. He evaluates historical markers, such as the dedication of *De eodem et diverso* to William, Bishop of Syracuse (by 1116) and the dedication of *Questiones naturales* to Richard, Bishop of Bayeux (1107–1133). A central debate concerns the identity of the queen before whom Adelard played the cithara; Thorndike argues it was likely Queen Matilda of Henry I, rather than a French queen, given Adelard's English origins and the political status of Normandy under Henry I. Thorndike reconstructs Adelard's itinerary to resolve apparent contradictions regarding the age of Adelard's nephew and the sequence of events. He concludes that *De eodem et diverso* was likely written while Adelard was in Sicily, shortly after he set out on his quest for foreign learning, before his extensive contact with Saracen science. In contrast, *Questiones naturales* depicts a different context: Adelard has returned to England after seven years of separation, a visit to Antioch, and a considerable period of study among the Arabs. Based on these distinctions, Thorndike proposes that *De eodem et diverso* predates *Questiones naturales* by approximately six years. The analysis highlights Adelard's intellectual journey from studying in Gaul to seeking knowledge in the Greek and Arab worlds. This transition illustrates the fluid boundaries between magic, philosophy, and early experimental science during this pivotal era. Thorndike also addresses potential indications that the order might be reversed, such as the placement of *De eodem et diverso* in a specific manuscript or shared scientific questions like the falling stone, but finds these explanations less tenable than the hypothesis of a six-year gap between the works. Ultimately, the text underscores the dynamic nature of medieval scholarship, where scholars like Adelard navigated diverse cultural spheres to broaden their education, challenging the reproaches of levity and inconstancy leveled against their itinerant pursuits.

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Categories

• History
• Science