Paracelsus: An Introduction to Philosophical Medicine in the Era of the Renaissance

Walter Pagel

Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers, 1982 - Medical - 399 pages

'... A work in the best tradition of bibliographical research... even the casual reader will be impressed to learn that, four centuries ago, the man who had the courage to burn in public the writings of Avicenna, recognised pulmonary disease in miners as an occupational hazard, cretinism and goitre as endemic in certain areas, and chorea and hysteria as manifestations of disease, not demonic possession.'

Contents

• The Life of Paracelsus: 5
• Early journeys 15171524: 13
• The second set of journeys: 22
• Johannes Oporinus and his pen portrait of Paracelsus: 29
• Paracelsus as a figure of the Renaissance and Humanism: 35
• Paracelsus and popular criticism of Doctor and Patient in the PreReformation: 44
• The Philosophy of Paracelsus: 50
• Censure of Aristotle and Avicenna: 58
• Paracelsus conception of Time: 72
• General: 82
• Earth and Water as Mothers Their offspring: 95
• The MacroMicrocosm theory in conflict with the concept of specificity The astral: 104
• Life soul spirit astral body and air: 117
• Medicine: 126
• Aetiology: 140
• Disease and the Stars The Animal in man and Lunacy The Psychiatry: 150
• Special Pathological Theories: 153
• Van Helmonts criticism of the Doctrine of Tartar: 161
• Paracelsus on Plague The Influence of Ficino Traditional Plague Theories: 172
• Traces of a suggested quantitative and chemical analysis of urine to replace: 189
• Progressive aspects of Paracelsus in Medicine and their limitations: 200
• Paracelsus and Neoplatonism The influence of Marsilio Ficino Ficinos ideal of: 218
• The Prime Matter of Paracelsus as foreshadowed by the philosophy of Salomo: 227
• Giordano Bruno: 232
• Cesalpino and Aristotle: 238
• Paracelsus and Arnald of Villanova: 248
• Paracelsus and Alchemy 258 Paracelsus and Alchemy: 259
• Paracelsus achievement in pure and medical Chemistry 273 Paracelsus achievement in pure and medical Chemistry: 273
• Paracelsus and Nicolaus Cusanus: 279
• Pomponazzi and Paracelsus: 289
• Agrippa of Nettesheyms Occult Philosophy: 295
• Middle XVIth Century opposition to Galen Johannes Argenterius and Paulus: 301
• Erastus Censure of Paracelsus: 311
• Daniel Sennerts Critical Defence of Paracelsus: 333
• Final Assessment: 344
• Addenda and Errata: 351
• Collation of loci quoted from Huser with the standard edition of Sudhoff: 375

Bibliographic information

• Title: Paracelsus: An Introduction to Philosophical Medicine in the Era of the Renaissance
• Author: Walter Pagel
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers, 1982
• ISBN: 380553518X, 9783805535182
• Length: 399 pages
• Subjects: Medical / Reference