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Full Description
Athanasius Kircher, the eminent 17th-century German Jesuit professor of mathematics at the Roman College emerges as a captivating figure within the pages of this monograph by Agustín Udías. Aptly deemed 'the man who knew everything,' Kircher's thirty-two comprehensive works, spanning an array of subjects, provide a unique lens into his visionary perspectives. This book delves into three selected works where Kircher unveils his conceptualization of the Earth, termed the 'Geocosmos,' treated magnetism as a cosmic and spiritual force, and embarks on a cosmic exploration from Earth to the stars. From his groundbreaking speculations on the Earth's interior, attributing earthquakes and volcanoes to intricate channels of air, water, and fire, to his cosmic journey accompanied by the ethereal spirit Cosmiel, Kircher's enduring allure persists. Despite variance from contemporary knowledge, situated at the beginning of modern science, Kircher's proposals of the structure of the Earth's interior, cosmic magnetic theories, and space journey to the stars offer a compelling glimpse into the intellectual landscape of a bygone era, making this book an essential exploration for scholars seeking a nuanced understanding of Kircher's profound influence.
Contents
Preface.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Athanasius Kircher's life and works.- The museum and correspondence.- The books.- 3. The geocosmos and the interior of the Earth.- Short index of the twelve books.- Preface: Earthquakes and volcanoes.- The Earth center of the universe.- The interior of the Earth.- The oceans and seas.- The subterranean fire, water and air.- Fountains, rivers, and lakes.- The terrestrial element.- Nature of the geocosmos.- Fossils, subterranean animals, men, and demons.- Poisons in the subterranean world.- Metals and mines.- Chemical transformations.- "Panspermia", the origin of plants and animals.- Chemical work.- 4. Magnetism and the cosmic magnetic chain.- Early work on magnetism and the Earth's magnetic field.- Kircher and magnetism.- Nature and properties of magnets.- Magnetic declination.- Observations of magnetic declination.- The magnetic map.- Causes of magnetic declination.- Magnetism as a cosmic and spiritual force.- 5. A space journey and the vision of the universe.- Introduction.- Preambles by Schott and Kircher.- Preamble by Schott.- Preamble by Kircher.- Dialog I: Journeys to Moon, Venus, Mercury, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Firmament.- Dialog II: God's providence in the work of the World.- Ecstatic Journey II.- Dialog I: The water element and the universal principle of things.- Dialog II: The admirable arcane of the Geocosmos or Terrestrial World.- Dialog III: Ecstatic journey to the subterranean world.- 6. Conclusion.- Appendix 1. Books on Athanasius Kircher published from 2000 to 2020.- Appendix 2. Table of Contents of Mundus subterraneus.- Appendix 3. Table of Contents of Magnes sive de arte Magnetica.- Appendix 4. Table of Contents of Iter exstaticum coelestem.- Kircher's Works Mentioned.- Bibliography.- Index by Names
