1. Science and Magic
Dr. Andy Mansfield

2. 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

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

4. 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’

5. 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’.

6. Francis Bacon ( )
‘… 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

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

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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)

13. Hans Baldung Grien, Witches’ Sabbath (1510)
Witchcraft:
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)

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

15. 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

16. 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’

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

18. 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)