Science and Magic Dr. Andy Mansfield

The Scientific Revolution A name given by historians for the period between 1500 – 1700 when the ‘conceptual, methodological and institutional foundations of modern science were first established’ – Henry. From contemplative to the useful Not a Revolution – process of fundamental change, rather than a radical break Natural Philosophy: explain the entire system of the world/ understanding the natural world

Importance of the Renaissance Political & Religious instability Economic change & expansion Three Key Inventions: Magnetic compass, gunpowder, printing press ‘Cultural relativism’ (material world)

Aristotelianism Aristotle: Natural Philosophy explained physical events easily Scholastic Natural Philosophy – complete system of physical world (Aristotle, Ptolemy, & Galen) Theology: the ‘Queen of Sciences’ Humanists & Scientists attacking the ‘System’

Three Key Aspects Increased ‘use of mathematics to understand the key workings of the world’. (b) Measurement & Instruments (accuracy) New ‘emphasis upon observation and experience for discovering truth.’ New ‘extended assumption … that natural knowledge should be useful’.

Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626) ‘… as water will not ascend higher than the level of the first springhead from whence it descendeth, so knowledge derived from Aristotle, & exempted from liberty of examination, will not rise again higher than the knowledge of Aristotle’ - Bacon, Advancement of Learning, I, i

René Descartes (1596 - 1650) Aims of the Discourse on the Method (1637): Attack on Aristotelianism Empirical investigation Public good and debate

Galileo & the Church Starry Messenger (1610) – Jupiter, Moon and Milky Way Two Chief World Systems (1632) – the earth moves Conviction for Heresy (arrogance, anti-papal suspicions & lost support)

Science, Religion & Magic Religion and Science: God’s interaction C13 onwards: Argument from Design ‘Scrutinising the Creation’/ Book of Nature C16/ C17: Atheism Natural Magic – important to science (the unexplained world; eg. Gravity)

The Supernatural Living in the Visible World End of the World: Last Days Misfortunes of Life God in the World (harvests, war, etc) Providentialism: God’s wrath Blake, The Ancient of Days (1794)

Magical World View - Religion and the Church - The ‘Black Economy’ of Spirituality: Magical Healing Popular Magic from cunning people Astrology Prophecy Omens Fairies, Ghosts, Witchcraft

The Devil Medieval Church attack on magic practises of laity The Reformation: the Antichrist & the Devil Material world battleground Satan & supernatural action Doré, Depiction of Satan (1866)

Hans Baldung Grien, Witches’ Sabbath (1510) Witchcraft: 1550 - 1650 Changing view: Maleficia (‘evil deeds’) to pact with the Devil Witches’ Sabbath: parody of the Mass Inversion of Nature Hans Baldung Grien, Witches’ Sabbath (1510)

Malleus Maleficarum (1487) Krämer & Sprenger Summis desiderantes affectibus (1484) Essex: Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General (1644-46) C16- C17: 50-100k executed

Reasons for Witchcraft The Malleus Maleficarum (& Persecution) Suppression of Folklore Reformation: loyalty & evil Legal changes Social and economic problems Demographic changes Roles of women & Misogyny

Two Views of Witchcraft James I, Daemonologie (1597): God allows Satan to tempt and test humanity. Scot, Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584): ‘As though there were no God …that ordered all things to his will: punishing both just and unjust …in a manner and form as he thinks good: but that certain old women here on earth, called witches, must needs be the contrivers of all men’s calamities’

The End of Witchcraft Trials Tighter Judicial Process Scepticism over Prosecutions Improved socio-economic conditions Secularisation Pursuit of Reason by elite

The Decline of Magic Scientific & Philosophical Revolution: pursuit of truth New Technologies: discovery filling gaps in knowledge (not magic) New Aspirations: practical self-help over mystery Hollar, Frontispeace (1667)