In the 16th century, the great scientist Galileo Galilei made several groundbreaking discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of the physical world. However, many people are unaware that Galileo also played a part in banning the practice of magic in certain regions during his time. During the Renaissance, magic and alchemy were deeply ingrained in society. People believed in supernatural forces and practiced occult rituals to manipulate and control the world around them. This belief in magic was not restricted to the uneducated masses; even scholars and philosophers dabbled in the mystical arts. In the 1590s, Galileo became aware of a popular magician named Giordano Bruno, who was gaining fame for his supposed magical abilities.
Did Linnaeus believe in these animals? It's hard to know, and some of Linnaeus's defenders say he only included the animals to point out how absurd they were. In the 1730s, he became famous for debunking a hydra in Hamburg. However, we can reasonably claim that Linnaeus believed he'd found a troglodyte , was pretty confident he'd seen a unicorn horn , and was very excited at the chance to find a mermaid .
begingroup Related article on medieval weather prediction and its connection to astrology in Physics Today the magazine of the American Physical Society physicstoday. From his copious reading, Galileo became a great admirer of the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, whose On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres is a landmark study in the history of astronomy.
In the 1590s, Galileo became aware of a popular magician named Giordano Bruno, who was gaining fame for his supposed magical abilities. Bruno claimed to possess knowledge of ancient mystical texts that could unlock the secrets of the universe. Intrigued by Bruno's claims, Galileo attended one of his shows and was thoroughly unimpressed.
These 5 men were scientific geniuses. They also thought magic was real.
Then again, he also made astrological charts for rich people.
Throughout history, scientific geniuses from Galileo to Newton have often believed in completely fantastical things — from astrology to alchemy to straight-up magic. Yet some of their bizarre ideas seemed completely valid to them at the time, and often for very good reasons.
We have the benefit of hindsight today, which gives us an unfair advantage over these geniuses. But that doesn't make their beliefs seem any less weird. Let's take a look:
1) Galileo believed astrology changed everything
Today, Galileo (1564–1642) is held up as a paragon of rationality. He advocated heliocentrism — the idea that the sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the solar system — fought an anti-heliocentric church at great risk, and greatly advanced astronomy throughout Europe.
He also was something like a fortune teller.
Galileo didn't just believe in astrology: he practiced it, conducted it for wealthy clients, and taught it to medical students. If students at the University of Padua had taken MCAT, Galileo would have included a question about whether a Leo should date a Gemini.
Galileo wasn't alone in keeping up on his signs. His contemporary Johannes Kepler conducted his own astrological studies, though more reluctantly (he called people who believed in astrology "fatheads").
2) Isaac Newton thought alchemy was the future
Isaac Newton: beneath the wig, a brain buzzing about alchemy. (Shutterstock)
John Maynard Keynes called Isaac Newton (1642–1726) "the last of the magicians" with good reason. Newton spent half his life obsessed with alchemy, the transformative magic most frequently associated with turning different metals into gold. To make things even more complicated, in 1696, Newton became warden of the Mint, and he became master of the Mint in 1700. The Royal Mint , of course, makes the coins for the entire United Kingdom (which was formed in 1707, 7 years into Newton's appointment). To be clear: an alchemist was the person in charge of making all the money.
Newton wasn't the only respected mind who had visions of diving into gold coins. Robert Boyle is considered the father of chemistry, but he dabbled in alchemy, as well. In fact, he was so committed to the alchemical cause that he fought to make alchemy legal, since Henry IV had banned it (because alchemy wasn't good for the monetary supply). Needless to say, the repeal wasn't necessary.
The philosopher's stone Newton chased after wasn't only able to "cure" metals that weren't gold — it also had medical powers that fascinated Newton and his peers. Unfortunately, today you can only find the philosopher's stone in the British subtitle of the first Harry Potter book.
3) Tycho Brahe made everyone believe he was a sorcerer
Tycho Brahe, sorcerer. (Kean Collection/Getty Images)
Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) created his own model of the universe, and though he didn't get things quite right, he helped advance astronomy and catalogued more than 1,000 stars. He also convinced everyone he was a sorcerer.
He did so from the unique perch of his private sorcerer's island, Hveen (today known in English as Ven). Fantastically wealthy, Brahe built multiple observatories there, had a squad of astronomical assistants, and used tiny automota (robots) to convince the locals he had magic powers. It didn't hurt that he partied hard, had his nose partly sliced off in a duel, and got his pet moose drunk at parties.
But he didn't just hoodwink the public into believing he was magical — he believed it too. He publicly lectured against anyone who believed astrology was fake, and he also believed alchemy was the future for mystical discoveries. Brahe even became so synonymous with magic that an entire calendar of magical days was made in his honor (and his name was slapped on to give it magical credibility).
4) Carl Linnaeus classified magical animals like the hydra and believed in mermaids
The Hamburg hydra, which Linnaeus debunked. (Public Domain)
Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) imposed taxonomical order on animal and plant life. In his era, scientists were discovering all sorts of new species at a rapid clip (Linnaeus himself thought pelicans might be a myth). That rapid pace of discovery led Linnaeus to believe, perhaps reasonably enough, that humans would soon find a host of mythological animals.
Linnaeus devoted a whole section of his landmark Systema Naturae to these strange beasts. It was called Animalia Paradoxa and included:
- the hydra
- the satyrus (a monkey-like man, similar to Pan in Greek mythology)
- the phoenix (the bird that rose from the ashes)
Did Linnaeus believe in these animals? It's hard to know, and some of Linnaeus's defenders say he only included the animals to point out how absurd they were. In the 1730s, he became famous for debunking a hydra in Hamburg. However, we can reasonably claim that Linnaeus believed he'd found a troglodyte , was pretty confident he'd seen a unicorn horn , and was very excited at the chance to find a mermaid .
Whatever the motivation, Linnaeus wasn't alone in believing in bizarre, vaguely magical animals. Gottfried Leibniz managed to help invent calculus, yet he still wanted to fill a museum with weird (and imaginary) animals like the myrmecoleon (some sort of ant-lion).
5) Paracelsus loved natural magic and himself
Paracelsus, looking slightly confused. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Paracelsus (1493–1541) did a lot when he was alive, including basically inventing toxicology and naming zinc. But when he wasn't revolutionizing scientific methods and naming metals, he was a big fan of magical things.
Born as Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, he renamed himself Paracelsus, both because it was shorter and because it literally meant he was "better than Celsus," a first-century Roman medical researcher (in Paracelsus's defense, he may have been renamed by his biggest fans). Paracelsus wrote that from an early age the "transmutation of metals" was his obsession, and he pursued it with vigor as an adult.
When he wasn't traveling the world performing surgeries, he tried to utilize "natural magic" to help patients. He was quoted as saying "magic is a great secret wisdom," and while his understanding of natural magic occasionally lent itself to scientific inquiry, he also believed that "the soul strongly desires sulphur." As the scientist on this list closest in time to Aristotle, it makes sense that Paracelsus would indulge in magic and the occult.
In his defense, that belief in magic was grounded in a commitment to inquiry: Paracelsus thought magic was just science that wasn't understood yet. In a way, that unites all the scientists on this list, who pursued new knowledge even when it meant looking in some very unusual places.
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One of the digits taken from his right hand is now encased in glass – appropriately, it’s his middle finger.
Galileo, a staunch believer in empirical evidence and the scientific method, saw magic as nothing more than trickery and deception. He believed that true knowledge and understanding of the natural world could only be achieved through observation, experimentation, and the use of reason. Magic, in his view, was a superstitious relic of the past that hindered the progress of true scientific inquiry. In 1600, Bruno was accused of heresy by the Roman Inquisition and was burned at the stake. Although Galileo was not directly involved in Bruno's trial, witnessing the punishment for his magical beliefs reinforced Galileo's disdain for magic and further fueled his determination to debunk and disprove it. Galileo's influence and reputation as a prominent scientist allowed him to sway public opinion against magic. He wrote extensively about the fallacies and irrationality of magical practices, emphasizing the importance of rational thought and scientific inquiry. His arguments resonated with many intellectuals of the time, and support for magical practices waned. Through his writings and public speeches, Galileo encouraged his contemporaries to abandon their belief in magic and instead embrace the wonders of the natural world as revealed through science. His efforts, combined with the advancement of the scientific method and the rise of skepticism, led to the decline and eventual banishment of magic in many parts of Europe. While Galileo is primarily remembered for his contributions to astronomy and physics, his role in the banning of magic highlights his broader impact on society and his determination to promote reason and empirical evidence as the pillars of knowledge and understanding..
Reviews for "The Science of Magic: Galileo's Forbidden Knowledge"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars - I found "Magic banned by Galileo" to be highly disappointing. The premise of the book was intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was slow and the characters lacked depth, making it difficult for me to become invested in their journey. Additionally, I found the world-building to be lacking, as the magical system was poorly explained and left me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Magic banned by Galileo" was a complete letdown for me. The initial concept sounded fascinating, but the plot was convoluted and confusing. The writing style was disjointed and made it hard to follow along with the story. The characters were undeveloped and lacked any real personality, making it difficult to care about their fates. I also found the dialogue to be awkward and unnatural. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying reading experience.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic banned by Galileo," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story felt disjointed and the pacing was inconsistent, with parts that dragged on unnecessarily. The main character lacked depth and his motivations were not fully explored, leaving me feeling disconnected from him. Additionally, the magical elements, which should have been a central focus of the story, felt poorly integrated and underdeveloped. Overall, I was left unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.