{"product_id":"occult-sciences-the-philosophy-of-magic-prodigies-and-apparent-miracles-paperback-9781108044301","title":"Occult Sciences; The Philosophy of Magic, Prodigies and Apparent Miracles (Paperback \/ softback) 9781108044301","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eOccult Sciences\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Philosophy of Magic, Prodigies and Apparent Miracles\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA two-volume 1846 translation of an examination of miracles in ancient times by a French polymath, first published in 1829.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eEusèbe Salverte (Author), Anthony Todd Thomson (Edited and translated by)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781108044301, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 16 February 2012\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e404 pages\u003cbr\u003e21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.51 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThis examination of the connection between the belief in miracles and religious practices in ancient times was originally written by French politician and polymath Anne-Joseph-Eusèbe Baconnière de Salverte (1771–1839) and published in 1829. In 1846, it was translated into English by a Scottish physician and writer, Anthony Todd Thomson (1778–1849), and published in two volumes. Thomson explains that Salverte's work was an important study of miracles and the power of priests, and he had 'performed a beneficial service in throwing open the gates of ancient sanctuaries'. However, Thomson also states that he differed from Salverte over the idea of the miraculous, and that he had expunged or heavily edited any passages relating to Christianity, even changing 'miracles' in the original subtitle to 'apparent miracles'. Volume 1 begins with a consideration of human credulity before discussing magic in the ancient world, and offering explanations for supernatural phenomena.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e A biographical sketch of M. Salverte Francois Arago\u003cbr\u003e Preface by the editor\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 1. Man is credulous because he is naturally sincere\u003cbr\u003e 2. Difference between miracles and prodigies\u003cbr\u003e 3. Enumeration and discussion of causes\u003cbr\u003e 4. Real but rare phenomena successfully held up as prodigies proceeding from the intervention of a divine power, and believed because men were ignorant that a phenomenon could be local and periodical\u003cbr\u003e 5. Magic\u003cbr\u003e 6. Trial of skill between the thaumaturgists\u003cbr\u003e 7. Errors mingled with the positive truths of science\u003cbr\u003e 8. Safeguards of the mystery that surrounded the occult sciences\u003cbr\u003e 9. Notwithstanding the rivalry of religious sects, the spirit of a fixed form of civilization existed\u003cbr\u003e 10. Enumeration of the wonders that the thaumaturgists acquired the power of working, by the practice of the occult science\u003cbr\u003e 11. Apparent miracles performed by mechanism\u003cbr\u003e 12. Acoustics\u003cbr\u003e 13. Optics\u003cbr\u003e 14. Hydrostatics\u003cbr\u003e 15. Secrets employed in working apparent miracles, in initiations, and in religious rites\u003cbr\u003e 16. Secrets to work upon the senses of the animals.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History of ideas [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History of ideas\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20of%20ideas%20%5BJFCX%5D%22\"\u003eJFCX\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46266075414808,"sku":"9781108044301","price":34.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9781108044301i_2c5f75f2-be8f-4b8b-b942-706b4c3284f4.jpg?v=1696746638","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/occult-sciences-the-philosophy-of-magic-prodigies-and-apparent-miracles-paperback-9781108044301","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}