The Language of Demons and Angels: Cornelius Agrippa's Occult Philosophy

by Christopher I. Lehrich, I. Lehrich

This is the first modern study of Agrippa s occult philosophy as a coherent part of his intellectual work. By demonstrating his sophistication, it challenges traditional interpretations of Agrippa as an intellectual dilettante, and uses modern theory and philosophy to elucidate the intricacies of his thought. It also argues for a new, interdisciplinary approach to magic and its place within early modern culture, using a transhistorical conversational model to understand and interpret the texts. The analysis walks the reader through the text of De occulta philosophia , Agrippa s 1533 masterpiece, explicating the often hidden structure and argument of the work. This volume will especially interest early modern intellectual historians, historians of religions, and scholars interested in the history of linguistic philosophy."

Genres: Occult, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Magick

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

With more than two decades as an interdisciplinary research scholar, writing teacher, and editor, I bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to manuscripts across the humanities and social sciences, working principally for individual scholars.
I specialize in religious studies, European history, East Asian studies (especially modern Japanese), philosophy, history of science, literary criticism, and anthropology. I have extensive experience with EFL authors, especially Japanese and French speakers.
When I’m not editing, I cook, write fantasy novels, and build clocks. I continue to publish occasional work in theory of religion and lecture on the discipline.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Christopher Lehrich seeks to defend Agrippa's intellectual reputation against critics who have denigrated his /De Occulta Philosophia/ as nothing more than an inventory of pre-scientific superstitious notions, as well as its apparent incoherence with his other major work, /De Vanitate/. Through a close analysis of selected passages, Lehrich demonstrates that Agrippa was, rather than simply regurgitating the ideas of Ficino and Trithemius, in fact actively engaging with these probable theoretical sources. In doing so, /De Occulta Philosophia/ subtly establishes his own position regarding magic vis-a-vis the chain of being that joined together Nature, the celestial sphere, and God, as well as arguing for a reevaluation of just what kinds of magical experiments are morally sound.

Agrippa's magic appears inextricably bound up with both his theology and his epistemology. The thoroughgoing skepticism of /De Vanitate/, Lehrich argues, demands faith in the incarnation of Christ as the sine qua non for all mortal knowledge. /De Occulta Philosophia/ posits a tripartite cosmology criss-crossed by invisible influences mediated through words and signs, which a learned and suitably faithful magician can put to use, potentially attaining an immediate knowledge of the Divine. Christ, as the logos - /the/ word - is the Divine intellect made present within Nature, without whom the entire structure breaks down and all meaning is lost. Some of Lehrich's most fascinating insights, in fact, revolve around issues of meaning and signification, his deconstructionist, linguistic reading of magical praxes providing them with not only an internal logic, but an ontological status and epistemological justification.

This book is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the history of early-modern magic, and a must-read for those interested in what it meant to its practitioners.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A groundbreaking look into the linguistic hermeneutics of renaissance magic.

[Cole Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good when covering Agrippa, the regular digressions rarely contribute to the major themes of the book and work as preliminary approaches to ongoing historical debates at best, but typically feel abortive and aimless.

Wouldn't feel confident recommending this to anyone without a highly specialized interest.