The Speculum Astronomiae and Its Enigma

The attribution of the Speculum Astronomiae to Albertus Magnus became a controversial issue only recently, when the great neo-Thomist historian Pierre Mandonnet suggested -- without any antecedents -- that the author was Roger Bacon rather than Albert. Mandonnet's theses were refuted by Lynn Thorndike and have since then been the subject of widespread discussion.
The present historiographical case-study considers this debate in the light of an analysis of texts by Albert himself, as well as other important authors, such as Bacon, Bonaventura, Thomas Aquinas, Witelo, Campanus of Novara, and others, which shows how widespread the general concept of the influence of the stars and other astrological ideas to be found in the Speculum were. Most of the scientific ideas of the Middle Ages were based on principles derived from the notion of celestial influence and its consequences. The Speculum drew the fundamental outlines of this discipline into a theoretical and bibliographical introduction -- no small achievement -- and was consequently greeted with great interest and used as a standard reference book for many centuries. Set against the background of discussions taking place in the 1260s, within the Dominican Order as well as in the Faculties of Arts, Zambelli removes all doubt that the Speculum was written by Albert, possibly with some collaboration.

Klappentext

The attribution of the Speculum Astronomiae to Albertus Magnus became a controversial issue only recently, when the great neo-Thomist historian Pierre Mandonnet suggested -- without any antecedents -- that the author was Roger Bacon rather than Albert. Mandonnet's theses were refuted by Lynn Thorndike and have since then been the subject of widespread discussion. The present historiographical case-study considers this debate in the light of an analysis of texts by Albert himself, as well as other important authors, such as Bacon, Bonaventura, Thomas Aquinas, Witelo, Campanus of Novara, and others, which shows how widespread the general concept of the influence of the stars and other astrological ideas to be found in the Speculum were. Most of the scientific ideas of the Middle Ages were based on principles derived from the notion of celestial influence and its consequences. The Speculum drew the fundamental outlines of this discipline into a theoretical and bibliographical introduction -- no small achievement -- and was consequently greeted with great interest and used as a standard reference book for many centuries. Set against the background of discussions taking place in the 1260s, within the Dominican Order as well as in the Faculties of Arts, Zambelli removes all doubt that the Speculum was written by Albert, possibly with some collaboration.

Inhalt
Preface. Part I: A Historiographical Case-Study. I.1. Mandonnet, the Speculum Astronomiae and the Condemnation of 1277. I.2. Further Condemnations, Debates and Consultationes'. I.3. Mandonnet's Hypothesis: Acquiescence and Doubts. I.4 Thorndike's Consistency: His Researches on the Speculum Astronomiae from 1923 to 1955. Part II: Discussions on Astronomy at the Time of Albert. II.1. Albert'sAuctoritas: Contemporaries and Collaborators. II.2. Astrology in the Early Dominican School and Gerard of Feltre. II.3. Astrology in Albert's Undisputed Works. II.4. AreDeaf and Dumb' Stars and Their Movers at the Origins of Modern Science? Another Historiographical Case-Study. II.5. Not the Heavens, but the God Alone is Endowed with Life and the Stars are Simply His Instruments. II.6. Divine Providence and the Meaning of `Interrogations'. Part III: Traditions, Collections and Heritage. III.1. Albert's Biblionomia. III.2. The Literary Tradition of the Speculum and its Role as a Reference Book. Conclusion. Notes. Bibliography: 1. Printed Primary Sources. 2. Secondary Literature.