Pico della mirandola, one of the most remarkable thinkers of the renaissance, has become known as a founder of humanism and a supporter of secular rationality. The book of magic is divided into 11 more or less chronological sections. For more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of. He studies philosophy and science in late medieval and early modern europe, focusing on renaissance philosophy, modern italian philosophy and the philosophical foundations for belief in magic in western. The first 80 pages of the book are wasted on extractstranslated by. Review of brian copenhaver, magic in western culture. About the book of magic a rich, wondrous anthology of the western magical tradition, from the old testament to doctor faustus and paradise lost, now in a penguin classics black spine edition. As when iron is drawn to a magnet, camphor is sucked into hot air, crystal lights up in the sun, sulphur and a volatile liquid are kindled by flame, an empty eggshell filled with dew is raised.
Because this book is not a narrative history of magic from antiquity to the enlightenment, its subtitle has the potential to mislead readers who may be interested in medieval magic. From antiquity to the enlightenment hardcover classics by copenhaver, brian isbn. Read the book of magic from antiquity to the enlightenment by brian copenhaver available from rakuten kobo. A strange blend of mumbojumbo, fear, fraud, and deeply serious study, magic was at the heart of the european renaissance, fascinating many of its greatest figures. The beliefs and practices of magic were part of philosophy and science for centuries. Pico della mirandola and his oration in modern memory.
From antiquity to the enlightenment cambridge university press, 2015, brian p. The book of magic ebook by brian copenhaver 97801493155. Brian copenhaver, professor of philosophy and history and former provost of uclas college of letters and science, is publishing two books about the scholarly underpinnings of magic. Brian copenhaver emeritus ucla department of philosophy. The book of magic by brian copenhaver overdrive rakuten. Selected and translated with an introduction and notes by brian copenhaver. Copenhaver born december 21, is professor emeritus of philosophy and copenhavers articles examine magic, astrology, the hermetica, kabbalah and their foundations in neoplatonic, aristotelian and scholastic philosophy. Copenhavers interests do not lie in the world of popular magic, other than. Find out more in the following extract from brian copenhavers book of magic, from antiquity to the enlightenment. From antiquity to the enlightenment brian copenhaver on. Arranged historically, with commentary, this book includes incantations, charms, curses, golems, demons and witches, as well as astrology, divination and alchemy, with some ancient and medieval works which were once viewed as too dangerous even to open.
Magic is one of the worlds earliest and most deeprooted fascinations, an enduring attraction that enchants scientists and harry potter fanatics alike. From antiquity to the enlightenment penguin classics kindle edition by brian copenhaver. Brian copenhaver upends this understanding of pico, unearthing the magic and mysticism in the most famous work attributed to him, oration on the dignity of man. Philosopher brian copenhaver publishes two scholarly books on. In this fascinating account of the historical conceptual framework. From antiquity to the enlightenment brian copenhaver. The texts are arranged historically in eleven sections, starting with the wizardry of moses in the hebrew bible. Brian copenhavers magic in western culture is a towering achievement in the field. Although this legendary hermes has often been identified as a divine patron of magic, copenhaver has shown that the greek hermetic texts recovered in the fifteenth century by marsilio ficino are not about magic. With the briefest of introductions to each chapter, it is up to the reader to decide how they want to tackle nearly 600 pages of extracts from religious discourses, scientific tracts, demonologies, and literary works, expertly chosen and translated by brian copenhaver, an. Magic in western culture is a dense, scholarly book, lightened in part by the rich illustrations.
Copenhavers work on giovanni pico della mirandola and lorenzo vallaboth hermettica as renaissance humanists, goes in two very different directions. The bible is full of stories featuring forms of magic and possessionfrom moses battling with pharaohs wizards to the supernatural actions of jesus and his disciples. A better subtitle might have been antiquity, renaissance and enlightenment. Copenhaver studies magic and related beliefs and practices astrology, demonology, divination, kabbalah as parts of normative philosophy and science as. An odd feature of the bible is that it is full of stories featuring forms of ma. This is a book filled with incantations, charms, curses, summonings, cures, and descriptions of extraordinary, shadowy, only halfunderstood happenings from long ago. Copenhaver, brian, copenhaver, brian, copenhaver, brian, copenhaver, brian. Textbooks can only be purchased by selecting courses.
Copenhaver shows that for millenia magic was taken seriously by the learned classes, sustained by a philosophical foundation drawn from plato, aristotle, and the stoics. Brian copenhavers wonderful anthology will be welcomed by everyone from those with the most casual interest in the magical tradition to anyone drawn to the. Please visit the course list builder to get started. With christopher shields notre dame, i coedited the sixvolume history of the philosophy of mind routledge. Magic in western culture remains a book filled with intellectual treasures. Little more than an anthology introduced and interpreted by copenhaver, where the cultural marxism inserts itself, this book is written for white progressives who love to hate themselves and the society that has been so good to them. Philosopher brian copenhaver publishes two scholarly books. Buy ebook the book of magic by brian copenhaver, ebook format, from the dymocks online bookstore. The book of magic will be welcomed by everyone from those with the most casual interest in the magical tradition to anyone drawn to the renaissance and the tangled, arcane roots of the scientific tradition. Copenhaver has sifted through the murky realms of early belief to piece together a wellresearched, cohesive analysis of the occult tradition. Buy the book of magic by brian copenhaver from waterstones today. The full title suggests it will be a history of western magic from late antiquity up to the.
Magic western culture antiquity enlightenment history of ideas and. Brian p copenhaver this book is a collection of texts that describe and debate magic in various aspects. Professor copenhavers book is arguably the most comprehensive history of renaissance magic tracing its. Copenhaver studies magic and related beliefs and practices astrology, 5 demonology, divination, kabbalah 6 as parts of normative philosophy and science as they were a few centuries ago. The story of the beliefs and practices called magic starts in ancient iran, greece, and rome, before entering its cruc. For more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the englishspeaking world. The book of magic, from antiquity to the enlightenment by brian. The book of magic by brian copenhaver penguin books. The book of magic ebook by brian copenhaver rakuten kobo. The role of the magic tradition in the inception of science is complex but to present the two as antithetical is wrong. Copenhaver includes a brief excurses on medieval ritual magic pp. The spells, stories and arguments contained in the book represent the intellectual path of magic over the centuries. Introduction by brian copenhaver translated by brian copenhaver selected by brian. This book is in many ways a summa of the interests and writers wit.
Read magic in western culture from antiquity to the enlightenment by brian p. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. From antiquity to the enlightenment penguin classics kindle edition by copenhaver, brian. Brian copenhaver upends this understanding of pico, unearthing the magic and mysticism in the most famous work attributed to him, the oration on the dignity of man.