Title: MICHAEL SCOT
Author: Lynn Thorndike
Publisher: Nelson
City: LondonYear: 1965 (First Edition)Binding Style: Hardcover
Pagination: 143Illustrated: No
Book Details + Condition: Study of this alchemist, physician, and astrologer in a first edition from 1965. In overall excellent condition, with no interior markings and only slight shelfwear. Embossed stamp of former owner on front endpaper. Dust jacket is in excellent condition and remains uncut, with the original price still present. Protected with mylar plastic jacket. From the jacket: Alchemist, physician, astrologer and
divine, his insistence on experience & his allusions to experiments
influenced the methods later used by Grosseteste and Roger Bacon. But he also
delighted in 'adulterine arts such as the interpretation of dreams, auguries
and lots'. Born in Scotland in about 1175, he is thought to have studied at
Oxford, and very likely both taught and studied at the University of Paris. The
earliest certain date in his cosmopolitan academic career is, however, 1217,
when he translated the work of the twelfth-century astronomer Al-Bitrugi at
Toledo. In his later years he became astrologer to the Emperor Frederick II, at
whose request many of his works were written. As a translator Michael is now
seen to have been of the greatest importance, reforming the translations of
Aristotlean metaphysics and natural philosophy, and acquainting the Latin world
with recent Arab thought, including the commentaries of Averroes on Aristotle.
Professor Thorndike's description of Scot's life & his considerable achievements is detailed, lively & full of anecdote. His writings present a picture
of society and psychology; of the universe and meteorology; of medicine,
metaphysics and magic. Astrology was the supreme science in the thirteenth
century, the fundamental natural law almost to the time of Newton being the
subjection of inferior elementary bodies to the rule of the stars. Particular
emphasis has therefore been placed on the extent to which Michael believed in
astrology. The whole study is based on an intensive survey of manuscript
material hitherto unobtainable, and offers many new conclusions.
