Secrets and Marvels

About this episode

This episode explores the duality of Albertus Magnus as both a revered philosopher and a suspected sorcerer, examining the intersection of science and magic.

Albertus Magnus, the thirteenth-century polymath known as the Universal Doctor, had a problem. To some, he was the greatest natural philosopher of his age. To others, he was a dangerous sorcerer who built talking automatons, disguised himself as a midwife to learn forbidden secrets, and wrote books on summoning demons. Was Albertus Magnus a saint, or was he a sorcerer? The answer to this question would help define the very boundary between science and magic. In this episode, I bring you the s...

People in this episode

Host: Corinne Wieben

Topics covered

• natural philosophy
• sorcery
• science vs magic
• history of magic
• Albertus Magnus

Keywords

• Albertus Magnus
• natural philosophy
• sorcery
• science
• magic
• 13th century
• automatons
• forbidden secrets

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