Is magic a science?
January 24, 2024 10:04 Source: "China Social Sciences" January 24, 2024 Issue 2822 Author: Wu Shubo

For a long time,Renaissance philosophy is a relatively weak link in the field of Western philosophy in my country,and the Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola,1463-1494) Studies are even thinner。Professor Wu Gongqing's newly published book "Magicization and Devil: Pip Ke's Magic Thought and the Birth of the Modern World",Make up the blank in the relevant research field。The author does not simply discuss magic on magic,Instead of put Pipho’s magic thoughts in the change of ancient and modern,Especially the vision of modern world map scene and modern natural sciences to review,Deepen the magic thoughts of Pipo and even the Renaissance of the Renaissance. Through the tendency of "operation", it provides an important motivation for the transformation of modern natural sciences to modern natural sciences。

For a contemporary reader who has been baptized by modernism,Magic is difficult to be included in the general impression of our modern science。Generally speaking,Modern science is mainly based on mathematics and experiments,Taking rational reasoning and argument as the fundamental construction method。and magic in our impression with witchcraft、Alchemy is the same,They often resort to unreasonable or even supernatural means to start their operation。Under the role of modern rationalism and its "removing magic" or "removing charm",Magic is usually regarded as superstition and is excluded from our daily language and life。But,Once we set our sights on the previous modern world,Especially the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,I will see a completely different picture of magic。

As a unique way of ideological and activity,Magic in the strict sense is not bet365 best casino games the invention of Europeans,Instead, there is its Oriental Origin。With oriental religious factors penetrate to the West,Especially through scholars represented by New Platoists in the late ancient period, the combination of religion and philosophy,Magic has gradually gained a strong sense of existence and real -memory form in Western culture。Because of magic, it is considered the power of summoning the demon,Therefore, in most of the Middle Ages,Magic is always suppressed and difficult to board the elegant hall,More circulating in folk and private life。but,In the world of Renaissance,Magic has embarked on the forefront of thought and ushered in its golden age,Italian scholar Paul Rossi even referred to the historical period of the 15th to 16th centuries as the "era of magic"。If it is said in the religious background of the Middle Ages,Theology is regarded as a science,So during the Renaissance,Magic also becomes a science in the same way。Of course,Saying magic is obviously not in the sense of modern mathematics and science。Science (Scientia) mentioned in the pre -modern period not only includes the natural sciences and humanities we are talking about today,even all knowledge including revelation theology is included in the wide range of science。Any kind of study only needs to have a clear object,and follow the corresponding principles and principles to explore to achieve the corresponding effect,So it is qualified to be called academic or science。

Although magic, especially natural magic, will inevitably load hidden content,But the inspection and use of magic do not violate rationality,Not contradictory with nature。Most scholars during the Renaissance think that magic needs to be based on rational and natural philosophy,Based on this, it can realize the contemplation and operation of magic on natural power and sacred power。In this way,Magic Bet365 lotto review and modern science have a common appeal,It is necessary to perform a kind of operation on nature and all things in the world。Magic in such a configuration is an important way for people to deal with nature during the Renaissance。Before the emergence of modern scientific inquiry of nature,Magic provides direct means for people to deal with nature and dominance。Of course,The reason why this means is widely accepted with their natural concepts and inseparable。When the natural concept has not changed to a reason for pure substances and is completely dominated by the law of mechanical theory,When people find that the nature in them seems to be full of various lives and even magic,The existence of magic and its operation have their own applicability and effectiveness。And,Magic is regarded as the era of science and the foundation of early modern science and the era of breeding.。This situation has caused people to make many discussions on the relationship between the two。Where,What caused the biggest response is undoubtedly the proposition proposed by the historian of British science,That is, "The Renaissance Magic provides a new attitude towards the world,A manipulation of the world,So prepare for the birth of modern science "。but,This topic has also triggered fierce debate,The key problem involved is: what role did operation or actionism play in the process of modern science。

Different from the science of ancient Greece and the medieval science,Modern science no longer emphasizes science's contempt,Instead, the practice, especially the operation to the front desk,And as your own distinctive feature。The operation tendency mentioned here can be understood from two aspects: first,The exploration of scientific knowledge no longer depends on observation of things,Instead, you need bet365 live casino games to know them through operations and change of natural things,Instead, you need to know them through operations and change of natural things。Next,Scientific research is no longer just to satisfy the curiosity of knowledge,No longer knowledge for knowledge; opposite,The goal of science is the transformation and utilization of the reality itself,Thus benefits for human life。If the change in the second aspect is not new,Because the pre -modern science since ancient times in ancient Greece has been attributed to people's happy life in a certain sense,Then the first aspect should be regarded as a complete modern,It can even be regarded as an invention,This is the knowledge tradition of the usual manufacturing theory。

When mentioning this tradition,The first thing we think of is the famous argument of Italian philosopher Vico in "New Science" "people can only understand the civil affairs world they created"。But,If we further expand the theoretical eyes,I will see,The knowledge tradition of this manufacturing theory is not the creative of 18th -century philosophers such as Vico,Instead, as early as the 17th century, they had been held for many thinkers and became the principle of building their own knowledge system。For example,Francis Bacon explicitly proposed,Although we must first understand nature,Then you can explain and dominate nature,But the understanding of nature is not a simple quiet knowledge,but on the basis of observing nature,The inherent nature and rules of nature are presented through the operation and conversion of natural things,Experiments play a key role in it。Compared to bacon,Hobbes' point of view is more aggressive,He believes that since we can only understand it only through the cause of things,So for the natural thing that is the reason for God,We can only have very limited knowledge; what we can really know and understand can only be made by ourselves,Rather graphics、Political body、Social Contract, etc.。bet365 Play online games Therefore,The knowledge tradition of manufacturing theory has been clearly established in the early days and obtained specific applications。

The origin of the knowledge tradition of this manufacturing theory and the origin of the operatingism that is wider than it,Related research is not a lot,Research on Magic during the Renaissance undoubtedly provided us with a good idea。According to the traditional understanding of magic,People may regard it as a superstition to completely exclude it outside the scope of scientific research,Or placed it in the field of mysterious theology or consciousness in the field of mysterious theology or consciousness。but,Magic is obviously not simply speculation,Instead, there is a tendency to have practical and operational inner locations,Even through the understanding of natural and sacred power, it is made in a phenomenon in the natural range (but not the creation of miracles)。Because of Wu Gongqing's opinion,There is a two -way interactive relationship between the two tendencies of magic and operation,That is, "Contemplation → Operation → Contemplation → Operation ..." This two -way interactive relationship indicates,Whether it is natural magic's contemplation of natural mystery,Or Cabara's Magic for God and Sacred Mystery,They will inevitably guide operations when they are contemplating on the basis of natural philosophical research,The operation itself will lead us to further contemplation,and include the results caused by the operation in this further contemplation,So as to provide us in depth to explore the mystery of nature and sacred existence。

Of course,Whether it is the knowledge tradition of manufacturing,It is still the operatingist tendency demonstrated by modern science,All changes with early modern practical concepts。The core of this change is: practice is no longer limited to the field of ethics and politics,Instead, Bet365 app download technology、Manufacturing and operation covers itself。but,The source of this transformation is not in the early modern world。As early as the philosophy period of the Scriptures,Aquina has eliminated the strict division of Aristotle in practical science and creating science,and integrate the practice and creation into a unified and extensive practical concept。Renaissance scholars have not regarded contemplation as the highest ideal of academic and life,Instead, it shows a more pragmatic spirit and practical orientation。The identity of the Renaissance scholar (especially humanists) is not limited to university professors,Instead, each has a special social occupation,and always devote themselves to the practice of society and politics。And,The academic academics during the Renaissance also exceeded the scope of the church and university and expanded in a wider social background。For example,Far -through -learning strokes that have far -reaching influence on modern mathematics and painting;。So,The combination of practical and skills played a promotion role for the scientific exploration of the Renaissance。This is the aspect we need to pay attention to when we explore the early modern manufacturing theory and operatingist tendencies,Perhaps they should be inspected in the pre -history history of early modern science with magic。

At the same time,Whether you are studying magic,Still exploring the relationship between the operatingism of magic and modern science,We all have to face another question。Although magic has always occupied an important position in European culture until the early 17th century,But once we turn our eyes to the Descartes of Cartester, a little later than Bacon、Hobbes、Bogeer、Early modern philosophers and scientists,I will find that the magic disappears in their pen,Instead of replacing them is the new science and bet365 live casino games new philosophy they advocated by mathematics,The "recognition type" of the Renaissance during its own and containing magic in itself with similarity and included magic in itself.。What is related to this is,Strict philosophical and scientific terminology system replaces the narrative method with myths and magic style during the Renaissance。This change is so strenuous,It is even quite sudden,so that we have to ask how this change happened。Of course,This problem has exceeded the current scope of discussion to a certain extent and needs to be explained and explained in another more special research。

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