Magic in Western Culture - From Antiquity to the Enlightenment

This richly illustrated and groundbreaking book treats magic as a classical tradition with foundations that were distinctly philosophical.

List of contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. The scruples of J. G. Frazer; 2. Magic as a classical tradition and its philosophical foundations; Part II. Mageia: 3. Ancient philosophy in Ficino's magic I: Plotinus; 4. Ancient philosophy in Ficinio's magic II: Neoplatonism and the Chaldaean Oracles; 5. Ancient philosophy in Ficino's magic III: Hermes and Proclus; 6. Scholastic philosophy in Ficino's magic; 7. Data: a tale of two fish; Part III. Hermetica: 8. Hermes the theologian; 9. Hermes domesticated; 10. Hermes on parade; Part IV. Magic Revived and Rejected: 11. How to do magic, and why; 12. Nature, magic, and the art of picturing; 13. The power of magic and the poverty of erudition; 14. Disenchantment; Part V. Conclusion: 15. Who killed Dabholkar?

About the author

Brian P. Copenhaver is Distinguished Professor and Udvar-Hazy Chair of Philosophy and History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and past president of the Journal of the History of Philosophy; he is also a member of the council of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi sul Rinascimento in Italy. He serves or has served on the boards of Rinascimento, Renaissance Quarterly, Annals of Science, the Journal of the History of Ideas, Early Science and Medicine, the International Archives of the History of Ideas, and the I Tatti Renaissance Library. The most recent of his eleven books is Peter of Spain's Summaries of Logic (2014, with Calvin Normore and Terry Parsons).

Summary

The story of the beliefs and practices called 'magic' starts in ancient Iran, Greece and Rome, before entering its crucial Christian phase in the Middle Ages. Centering on the Renaissance and Marsilio Ficino, this richly illustrated and groundbreaking book treats magic as a classical tradition with foundations that were philosophical.

Product details

• Authors: Brian P. Copenhaver, Brian P. (University of California Copenhaver, Copenhaver Brian P.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 09.09.2015
• EAN: 9781107070523
• ISBN: 978-1-107-07052-3
• No. of pages: 612
• Subjects: Education and learning > Adult education/adult education classes; Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History of Ideas, Europe, European History, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, Philosophy, Religion & beliefs, c 1500 onwards to present day, Medieval History, c 1000 CE to c 1500, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Magic, alchemy and hermetic thought, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600