Inovace kurzů akademické angličtiny pro humanitní oboryreg. číslo: CZ.1.07/2.2.00/15.0251

MAGIC IN TRADITION OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION

Samuel Klein2012/2013AEPPH

CONTENTDefinitions of magicApproaches to magicRelation with religion and scienceDifferentiation of magicSymbolismHistorical perspectiveToday´s intersections with modern

science

DEFINITIONS OF MAGIC Plinius Secundus ( Historia naturae )

Magic contains meta-physical phenomena and is type of

nature philosophy. Plotinos

Magic is based on harmony of universe and acts through

powers joined by sympathy. Paracelsus

Magic is control , overpowering, of nature. Agrippa of Nettensheim

True and hidden philosophy of miracles of nature. Roger Bacon

Magic is practical metaphysics.

DEFINITIONS OF MAGIC Papus

Science about hidden, science that is hidden and

is hidding. G. Maspero

Origin of all religions. J.G. Frazer

Simple act of primitive psyche. Aleister Crowley

Magic is science and art to cause a change in

accordance with will. Witchcraft is not the same as magic, even though they are

often identified as same.

APPROACHES TO MAGIC Psychological

Magic as a ritual way of uncovering unconscious traits

and problems of an individual. Etnological and Cultural anthropology

Magic as a cultural phenomena. Philosophical

Magic as a way of solving philosophical problems in

intellectual history. Scientific Practical Political

RELATION WITH RELIGION F.G. Frazer (1890)

Religion developed from magic. Typical common

religious and magical act is worship In Magic experimenting is possible in contrary to

religion. Eliphas Lévi

Occult sciences originates from hidden theology,

Kabbalah, enlightens rituals that are corresponding

with rituals of Church ......therefore it´s impossible to

teach occult sciences without speaking about religion. Magic and religion comes from preposition of protocause of

causes. 2 different ways to transcendence.

RELATION WITH SCIENCE Mainly from view of psychology and cultural anthropology. B. Malinowski (1983):

Science holds on belief, that experience, effort and ratio have

validity; magic holds on belief, that hope can´t be false and

wish can´t disappoint. Theories of science are determined by

logic, magic by association of ideas, which are influenced by

wishes. C. Lévi-Strauss

Magic and science have same goal and are both valid, they

just use different methodology.

Science concerned with measurable and perceivable world.

Magic concerned also with immeasurable and beyond physics

world.

DIFFERENTIATION OF MAGIC Magic can by differentiated:

By subject Natural Supernatural

By purpose of practicing Black ( Satanism, Witchcraft....) White (Enochian....)

By development of practicing mage Psychurgy Theurgy

By specialization Scouting magic Sexual magic Talismanic magic Necromancy

SYMBOLISM

John Dee pentacle

SYMBOLISM

White magic pentacle

SYMBOLISM

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVELegendary origin Technology of forgotten race Evolutionary Extraterrestrial

Historical origin Babylonia Egypt Persia India Siberia

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEAncient historyEgypt Highly ritualistic culture, rituals of mummification, Hermetism

Babylonia Daemonology

Persia Cult of Zoroaster ( Zarathrusta)

Hebrew Kabbalah, cultural influence from Babylonia, Egypt

Greeks and Romans Mysteria, Hermes Trigonomestros, Precognition,

Pythagorean mystics, Neo-Platonism

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEMiddle ageBlack magic Gilles de Rais Witchcraft processes – Malleus malificarium

High magic Clergy, Pope´s grimoires, Mystic tradition, Gnostics

Mass witchcraft Herbalism Folk medicicne

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVERenaissancePhilosophers Ficino, Pico de Mirandolla, Giordano Bruno, Campanella New interest in kabbalah

Scholars Thithemius Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim Theoprastus Paracelsus von Hohenheim John Dee Johanes Faust

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVENew age With colonisation came influence of Eastern philosophies Count Saint-German Cagliostro Eliphias Lévi Papus Aleister Crowley Nacist and soviet occultism

Lodge communities Rosicrucianism Ordo templi orientis Hermetic order of Golden dawn

TODAY´S INTERSECTIONS WITH MODERN SCIENCE

Quantum physics Theory of strings Quantum mechanics Alternate reality and virtual reality

Neurology Brain frequency and perception

CONCLUSIONMagic is phenomena that occurs in every culture on Earth and is part of cultural heritage of human race. No matter from which point you také it, it´s important feature of human thinking and as such should be studied and not simply rejected. Studied carefully it can show us problems that are similar to nowadays scientific controversions and also some methods can helps us to understand human perception.