The Rise of Natural History and the Culture of Curiosity: Exploring Occult Philosophy and Natural Magic in the 16th Century Europe
Summary
This transcript explores the rise of natural history and the culture of curiosity in 16th and 17th century Europe, which drew aristocratic and courtly collectors to the power over the natural world that collecting offered. It discusses the struggle to absorb new and apparently divergent phenomena from outside Europe, and the breakdown of inherited, common-sense categories in which flora and fauna were classified, particularly in the New World. The transcript also delves into the rising interest in occult philosophy and the mystical powers of natural magic in the 16th century, and how the use of Kabbalistic techniques led to the creation of a hieroglyph that explained the number of planets and their orbits.
Table of Contents
- The Interest in Exotic Creatures and Curiosities in Europe
- Struggle to Classify Flora and Fauna in the New World
- The Rise of Occult Philosophy and Natural Magic
- Johannes Kepler’s Work
- William Gilbert’s Exploration into Magnetic Force
- Significance of Alchemical Skills and Practices
- Link to the Protestant Reformation
Q&A
Q: What led to the interest in natural history and collecting among aristocratic and courtly collectors during the 16th and 17th centuries?
A: The interest in natural history and collecting was fueled by the desire to gain power over the natural world by understanding it. Princely courts fed the interest in exotic creatures, rarities, and curiosities of all kinds, drawing aristocratic and courtly collectors to the power over the natural world that collecting offered. Natural objects became a means to comprehend and exploit nature, and collecting became a shared occupation.
Q: How did the breakdown of inherited, common-sense categories affect the classification of flora and fauna in the New World?
A: The New World, with its immense size and marvellous and monstrous creatures, signalled the breakdown of inherited, common-sense categories in which flora and fauna were classified. This led to a struggle to absorb new and apparently divergent phenomena from outside Europe. Monstrous and prodigious events in nature were viewed as either signs of the Devil or of God’s anger at human sin. While Protestants saw such events as warnings from God, Catholics viewed them as false signs from the Devil.
Q: What is natural magic, and how did it gain popularity in the 16th century?
A: Natural magic is the use of magic to attempt to produce real-world effects. It gained popularity in the 16th century due to the rising interest in occult philosophy and the mystical powers of nature. The virtuosi of the new science, who were the salons of the day, advocated for natural magic, which they believed could access deeper truths of God in nature through the power of music, mathematics, and spiritual and psychological magic. This nature-centric approach contrasted with the Aristotelian philosophy, which was the predominant academic paradigm of the time.
Q: Who were the Neo-Platonists, and what was their contribution to natural magic?
A: The Neo-Platonists were a group of philosophers who proposed an alternative model of the universe that included life-forces inherent in nature and a harmonious connection between the microcosm and macrocosm. They believed that natural magic could understand and harness the strange powers in nature through the power of music, mathematics, and spiritual and psychological magic. Their agenda was ambitious, but they had no common platform and were often vulnerable to accusations of being frauds. Their anti-Aristotelianism provided an attractive rhetorical platform.
Q: What was Heinrich Agrippa’s book, Occult Philosophy, about, and why was it influential?
A: Heinrich Agrippa’s book, Occult Philosophy, was about defining natural magic and its potential to understand and harness the strange powers in nature. The book was influential among nonconformist thinkers, such as Girolamo Cardano, who applied astrological knowledge to predict and explain the history of the world. Similarly to Agrippa, Cardano believed that the mystical powers of natural magic had both physical and psychic impact, and could only be considered legitimate when put to practical use to improve human life.
Q: What is Kabbalistic technique, and how was it used to detect numerical harmonies in the universe?
A: Kabbalistic technique is the study of Jewish mysticism that focuses on the esoteric interpretation of biblical texts. It was used to detect numerical harmonies in the universe by assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters and words, and then interpreting the patterns of these values. This led to the creation of a hieroglyph that explained the number of planets and their orbits. Johannes Kepler’s work expanded on this concept in his book, Harmony of the World, which included astrological harmonies and his belief that planetary orbits were elliptical.
Conclusion
The 16th and 17th centuries were a period of intense interest in the natural world and its mysteries. The rise of natural history and the culture of curiosity drew aristocratic and courtly collectors to the power over the natural world that collecting offered. The breakdown of inherited, common-sense categories in which flora and fauna were classified, particularly in the New World, led to a struggle to absorb new and apparently divergent phenomena from outside Europe. The rise of occult philosophy and natural magic in the 16th century, and the use of Kabbalistic techniques to detect numerical harmonies in the universe, expanded the understanding of the natural world and its mystical elements. These contributions have had a lasting impact on our understanding of the universe and the interconnection of all things within it.
