Magic, Medicine and Science Syllabus http://faculty.poly.edu/~jbain/mms/mmssyllabus.

htm

Jonathan Bain
Technology, Culture and Society
NYU-Tandon

STS-UY 2244 Magic, Medicine and Science

[Home]

Prof:  Jonathan Bain Spring 2018 JAB 777

Office:  LC124              Mon/Weds 8:30am-10:20am    
Off. hr:  Tues 12:30-1:30pm         phone:  646.997.3688

I.  Description
This course examines the metaphysical and epistemological origins of three systems of thought – the organic,
the magical, and the mechanical – and considers the extent to which modern science can be seen as arising
from their synthesis.  Topics include Plato and neoplatonism; Aristotle's cosmology; the Hermetic Corpus; the
Renaissance magic of Ficino and Pico; Galen and Paracelsus on the metaphysics of disease; magic and
medicine in Elizabethan England; hermetic influences on Copernicus and Kepler; Descartes and the rise of the
mechanical philosophy; and finally, neoplatonic and hermetic influences on Newton.

II.  Texts
A.  At Bookstore:

Cohen, I. B. (1985) The Birth of a New Physics, Norton.

Kassell, L. (2007) Medicine and Magic in Elizabethan London:  Simon Forman:  Astrologer, Alchemist,
and Physician, Oxford University Press.

B.  Online:

Aristotle, On the Heavens, Metaphysics (excerpts; trans. J. L. Stocks).

Copenhaver, B. (trans.) (1992) , Hermetica, Cambridge University Press (pp. 1-7; 67-92).
Debus, A. (1978), Man and Nature in the Renaissance, Cambridge University Press (pp. 16-33).
Kaske, C. and J. Clarke (trans.) (1998), Marsilio Ficino:  Three Books of Life, MRTS, (odd pages only: 
pp. 239-249; 305-309; 321-333; 385-401).
Kearney, H. (1971), Science and Change, World Univ. Library (pp. 17-48; 96-140).
Koyre, A. (1957), From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe, The Johns Hopkins University Press
(pp. 110-154).
Lindberg, D. (2007), The Beginnings of Western Science, 2nd Ed., Univ. Chicago Press (pp. 21-66).
McGuire, J. E. and P. M. Rattansi (1966)", "Newton and the Pipes of Pan", Notes and Records of the
Royal Society of London 21, pp. 108-143.
Pagel, W. (1960) "Paracelsus and the Neoplatonic and Gnostic Tradition", Ambix 8, 125-166.
Westfall, R., (1977), The Construction of Modern Science, Cambridge University Press (pp. 25-42;
82-104).
Plato, Timaeus (excerpts; trans. B. Jowett).
Plotinus, The Enneads (excerpts; trans. S. Mackenna and B. S. Page).
Yates, F. (1964) Girodano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition, University of Chicago Press:
"Hermes Trismegistus" and "Ficino's Pimander and the Asclepius", pp. 1-19; 20-38.
"Hermes Trismegistus and Magic" and "Ficino's Natural Magic", pp. 44-61; 62-83.
"Pico Della Mirandola and Cabalist Magic", pp. 84-116.

C.  Supplemental material for papers:

1 of 3 11/8/18, 2:09 PM
Magic, Medicine and Science Syllabus http://faculty.poly.edu/~jbain/mms/mmssyllabus.htm

Copenhaver, B. (1986) "Renaissance Magic and Neoplatonic Philosophy:  Ennead 4.3-5 in Ficino’s De
vita coelitus comparanda"in G. Garfagnini (ed.) Marsilio Ficino e il ritorno di Platone, Florence, pp.
351-369.
Farmer, S. A. (1998)  Syncretism in the West:  Pico’s 900 Theses (1486), MRTS, pp. 115 - 132.
Munitz, M. (ed) (1957) Theories of the Universe, MacMillan.  Selections from:  Ptolemy, The Almagest;
Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.
Walzer, R. and M. Frede (eds.) (1985), Three Treatises on the Nature of Science, Hackett (excerpt).
Westfall, R. (1984) "Newton and Alchemy", in B. Vickers (ed.) Occult and Scientific Mentalities in the
Renaissance, Cambridge:  Cambridge Univ. Press, 315-335.

III. Course Requirements

1. Attendance is mandatory.  A sign-in sheet will be passed out at the beginning of each lecture.  If you feel
that you will not be able to attend all lectures, please do not enroll in this class.
 
2. Two papers of 5-7 pages.  Suggested topics will be provided at least 2 weeks before due dates.
(a)  All papers must conform to writing guidelines handed out and discussed on the first day of class.
(b)  Late paper policy:   Late papers will be given an initial penalty of a third of a grade point, and a further
penalty of a third of a grade point for every period of 4 days after the due date.  Example:  An A paper
turned in one day late will receive an A-; an A paper turned in 4 days late will receive a B+; an A paper
turned in 8 days late will receive a B; etc.  Late papers will not be accepted after the date of the final.

3. Six quizzes will be given at the beginning of class on the dates listed below.  These will consist of 3
questions from the study guide quesitons.  You will have 15 minutes to complete them.  The best 5 of 6 quiz
grades will count toward your total quiz grade.

4. One midterm and one final will be given.  They will consist of short answer questions and short essay
questions.

IV.  Grade Distribution

Quizzes: 20% total
Papers: 40% total     (2 @20%)
Midterm: 20%
Final: 20%

V.  Reminders on University Policies

1. Incompletes.  It is university and TCS departmental policy that incompletes can be given only in very
extenuating circumstances (medical emergencies, etc.).  In particular, an incomplete cannot be given
because of a heavy course load, job commitments, or because you've simply fallen behind in the course. 
For this reason, you should attend every lecture and make sure you're aware of assignment deadlines and
exam dates.  If for whatever reason you find yourself falling behind during the semester, do not hesitate to
see the instructor as soon as possible.
2. University Honor System.  All students should be aware of the university policy on cheating and
plagiarism.  Cheating on an exam, or plagiarizing on an essay assignment, are sufficient reasons for
receiving an F in the course
3. Moses Statement.  If you are student with a disability who is requesting accommodations, please contact New York
University’s Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at 212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu.  You must be
registered with CSD to receive accommoda-tions. Information about the Moses Center can be found at
www.nyu.edu/csd. The Moses Center is located at 726 Broadway, 2nd floor.

VI.  Class Schedule

The following schedule may be subject to revision over the course of the semester.  Reading assignments must
be completed by the date on which they appear.
1 Mon 1/22  Introduction. Weds 1/24  Plato.

2 of 3 11/8/18, 2:09 PM
Magic, Medicine and Science Syllabus http://faculty.poly.edu/~jbain/mms/mmssyllabus.htm

Background:  Kearny (1971) 17-48. Lindberg (2007) 21-44.  Timaeus

excerpts.
1/29  Aristotle. 1/31  Aristotle, cont.
2 Lindberg (2007) 45-66. On the Heavens, Metaphysics
excerpts.  Q1
2/5  Plotinus. 2/7  The Hermetic Corpus and
Enneads excerpts. Magic.
3
Yates (1964) 1-43.  Copenhaver
(1992) 1-7; 67-92.
2/12  Ficino:  Natural Magic and Cosmic Medicine. 2/14  Pico:  Supernatural Magic
4 Yates (1964) 44-83; Kaske and Clark (1998). and the Cabbala. 
Yates (1964) 84-116.  Q2
2/19 2/21  Galen:  The Four Humor
5 No Class (Presidents' Day) Theory of Disease.
Kearney (1971) 114-125.  Paper1
2/26 2/28 
6
No Class (Prof out of town) No Class (Prof out of town)
3/5  Paracelsus:  The Ontic Theory of Disease. 3/7
7
Pagel (1960). MIDTERM
3/12 3/14
8
SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
3/19  Paracelsus and the Chemical Philosophy. 3/21  Forman:  The Making of an
9 Debus (1978) 16-33. Astrologer-Physician. 
Kassell (2007) Chaps 1-3.  Q3
3/26  Plague and the College of Physicians of London. 3/28
10
Kassell (2007) Chaps 4-5. No Class (Prof out of town)
4/2  Forman:  The Casebooks. 4/4  Alchemy, Magic, and
Kassell (2007) Chaps 6-7. Medicine.
11
Kassell (2007) Chaps 8-10;
Conclusion.  Q4
4/9  Two World Views:  Ptolemy and Copernicus. 4/11  Galileo and the Telescope. 
12 Kearney (1971) 96-104; Cohen (1985) 24-52. Cohen (1985) 53-80.
Descartes, cont.
4/16  Galileo and Aristotle on Motion. 4/18  Kepler and Neoplatonism.
13 Cohen (1985) 2-24; 81-126. Kearney (1971) 130-140; Cohen
(1985) 127-147.  Q5
4/23  Descartes and The Mechanical Philosophy. 4/25    Biology and the Mechanical
14 Westfall (1977) 25-42. Philosophy.
Westfall (1977) 82-104.  Paper2
4/30  The Cambridge Platonists. 5/2  Newton and Ancient Wisdom. 
15
Koyre (1957) 110-154. McGuire & Rattansi (1966).  Q6
5/7  The Newtonian Synthesis.
16
Cohen (1985) 164-184.
17 Final (date to be announced by registrar)

3 of 3 11/8/18, 2:09 PM