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Eros and Magic in the Renaissance (Paperback, 2nd ed.)
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Eros and Magic in the Renaissance (Paperback, 2nd ed.)
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It is a widespread prejudice of modern, scientific society that
"magic" is merely a ludicrous amalgam of recipes and methods
derived from primitive and erroneous notions about nature. "Eros
and Magic in the Renaissance" challenges this view, providing an
in-depth scholarly explanation of the workings of magic and showing
that magic continues to exist in an altered form even today.
Renaissance magic, according to Ioan Couliano, was a scientifically
plausible attempt to manipulate individuals and groups based on a
knowledge of motivations, particularly erotic motivations. Its key
principle was that everyone (and in a sense everything) could be
influenced by appeal to sexual desire. In addition, the magician
relied on a profound knowledge of the art of memory to manipulate
the imaginations of his subjects. In these respects, Couliano
suggests, magic is the precursor of the modern psychological and
sociological sciences, and the magician is the distant ancestor of
the psychoanalyst and the advertising and publicity agent.
In the course of his study, Couliano examines in detail the ideas
of such writers as Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, and Pico della
Mirandola and illuminates many aspects of Renaissance culture,
including heresy, medicine, astrology, alchemy, courtly love, the
influence of classical mythology, and even the role of fashion in
clothing.
Just as science gives the present age its ruling myth, so magic
gave a ruling myth to the Renaissance. Because magic relied upon
the use of images, and images were repressed and banned in the
Reformation and subsequent history, magic was replaced by exact
science and modern technology and eventually forgotten.
Couliano'sremarkable scholarship helps us to recover much of its
original significance and will interest a wide audience in the
humanities and social sciences.
General
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