A Magical World: Superstition and Science from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment

With breakneck speed and a very broad brush, British historian Wilson (Mrs. Luther and Her Sisters) runs through many of the intellectual changes that occurred in Europe between 1450 and 1750. Throughout, Wilson attends to the contemporary epistemologies associated with both religion and science while exploring knowledge acquired via observation and faith. He also presents abbreviated summaries of the ideas of most of the leading intellectual figures of the time. The Catholic Church, Wilson notes, was worried about “the uncontrolled quest for knowledge (and, therefore, power)” and even argued that some scientific knowledge “was generated by the devil and his cohorts.” Knowledge, Wilson asserts, is indeed a powerful force and it was the availability of vernacular Bibles during this time that led to “the re-evaluation of every aspect of life.” This reconceptualization, in turn, “resulted in dislocation and warfare throughout Europe that lasted into the eighteenth century.” The shifting balance between religion and science is perhaps best exemplified by Wilson’s discussion of prosecutions for witchcraft, as the public “began to question” the theology of witches largely due to “the activities of the witchfinders.” This is a good overview and there is much of interest here, but Wilson prioritizes breadth rather than depth. (Feb.)