'A dazzling chronicle, a bracing challenge to modernity's smug
assumptions' - Bryce Christensen, Booklist 'O what a world of
profit and delight Of power, of honour and omnipotence Is promised
to the studious artisan.' Christopher Marlowe, Dr Faustus Between
the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Europe changed out of all
recognition and particularly transformative were the ardent quest
for knowledge and the astounding discoveries and inventions which
resulted from it. The movement of blood round the body; the
movement of the earth round the sun; the velocity of falling
objects (and, indeed, why objects fall) - these and numerous other
mysteries had been solved by scholars in earnest pursuit of
scientia. Several keys were on offer to thinkers seeking to unlock
the portal of the unknown: Folk religion had roots deep in the
pagan past. Its devotees sought the aid of spirits. They had stores
of ancient wisdom, particularly relating to herbal remedies. Theirs
was the world of wise women, witches, necromancers, potions and
incantations. Catholicism had its own magic and its own wisdom.
Dogma was enshrined in the collective wisdom of the doctors of the
church and the rigid scholastic system of teaching. Magic resided
in the ranks of departed saints and the priestly miracle of the
mass. Alchemy was at root a desire to understand and to exploit the
material world. Practitioners studied the properties of natural
substances. A whole system of knowledge was built on the theory of
the four humours. Astrology was based on the belief that human
affairs were controlled by the movement of heavenly bodies. Belief
in the casting of horoscopes was almost universal. Natural
Philosophy really began with Francis Bacon and his empirical
method. It was the beginning of science 'proper' because it was
based on observation and not on predetermined theory. Classical
Studies. University teaching was based on the quadrivium - which
consisted largely of rote learning the philosophy and science
current in the classical world (Plato, Aristotle, Galen, Ptolemy,
etc.). Renaissance scholars reappraised these sources of knowledge.
Islamic and Jewish Traditions. The twelfth-century polymath,
Averroes, has been called 'the father of secular thought' because
of his landmark treatises on astronomy, physics and medicine.
Jewish scholars and mystics introduced the esoteric disciplines of
the Kabbalah. New Discoveries. Exploration connected Europeans with
other peoples and cultures hitherto unknown, changed concepts about
the nature of the planet, and led to the development of
navigational skills. These 'sciences' were not entirely
self-contained. For example physicians and theologians both
believed in the casting of horoscopes. Despite popular myth (which
developed 200 years later), there was no perceived hostility
between faith and reason. Virtually all scientists and philosophers
before the Enlightenment worked, or tried to work, within the
traditional religious framework. Paracelsus, Descartes, Newton,
Boyle and their compeers proceeded on the a priori notion that the
universe was governed by rational laws, laid down by a rational
God.. This certainly did not mean that there were no conflicts
between the upholders of different types of knowledge. Dr Dee's
neighbours destroyed his laboratory because they believed he was in
league with the devil. Galileo famously had his run-in with the
Curia. By the mid-seventeenth century 'science mania' had set in;
the quest for knowledge had become a pursuit of cultured gentlemen.
In 1663 The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge
received its charter. Three years later the French Academy of
Sciences was founded. Most other European capitals were not slow to
follow suit. In 1725 we encounter the first use of the word
'science' meaning 'a branch of study concerned either with a
connected body of demonstrated truths or with observed facts
systematically classified'. Yet, it was only nine years since the
last witch had been executed in Britain - a reminder that, although
the relationship of people to their environment was changing
profoundly, deep-rooted fears and attitudes remained strong.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
