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

265 Pages·2003·2.19 MB·English

by  Christopher I. Lehrich

THE LANGUAGE OF DEMONS AND ANGELS
BRILL’S STUDIES
IN
INTELLECTUAL HISTORY
General Editor
A.J.Vanderjagt, University of Groningen
Editorial Board
M. Colish, Oberlin College
J.I. Israel, University College, London
J.D. North, University of Groningen
R.H. Popkin, Washington University, St. Louis-UCLA
VOLUME119
THE LANGUAGE OF DEMONS
AND ANGELS
Cornelius Agrippa’s Occult Philosophy
BY
CHRISTOPHER I. LEHRICH
BRILL
LEIDEN (cid:127)BOSTON
2003
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
The cover image shows the harmony and proportion of the human body with respect
to the seven heavenly bodies, demonstrating the theory of the microcosm. From
De occulta philosophia2.27, 331/347
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lehrich, Christopher I.
The language of demons and angels : Cornelius Agrippa’s occult philosophy / by
Christopher I. Lehrich.
p. cm. — (Brill’s studies in intellectual history, ISSN 0920-8607 ; v. 119)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 90-04-13574-X
1. Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius. 1486?-1535. 2. Occultism. I. Title. II.
Series.
B781.A34L44 2003
130’.92-dc22
2003055665
ISSN 0920-8607
ISBN 90 04 13574 X
© Copyright 2003 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
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printed in the netherland
Vos igitur, doctrinae et sapientiae filii, perquirite in hoc libro
colligendo nostram dispersam intentionem quam in diversis
locis proposuimus et quod occultatum est a nobis in uno loco,
manifestum fecimus illud in alio, ut sapientibus vobis patefiat.
Vobis enim solis scripsimus. . . .
You, therefore, sons of wisdom and learning, search diligently in
this book, gathering together our dispersed intentions, which in
divers places we have propounded; and what is hid in one place,
we make manifest in another, that it may appear to you wise
men. For, for you only have we written. . . .
— Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ...................................... ix
Abbreviations ......................................... xi
List of Illustrations .................................... xiii
Chapter One Introduction .............................. 1
Theory and Method .................................. 2
Cornelius Agrippa: Life ............................... 25
Works............................................ 32
Chapter Two Logos and Nature ........................ 43
The Natural Magic Problem ........................... 45
The Practice of Natural Magic: Man as Operator ........... 66
Magic and Skeptical Philosophy ........................ 73
Conclusions ....................................... 91
Chapter Three Sign, Sigil, Text ......................... 98
Exemplum: Magic Squares and Figures .................. 100
Exemplum: the Practice of Images ..................... 110
Theories of Signification ............................. 116
The Elementary Forms of Language .................... 124
The Power of the Sign .............................. 134
Inscribing the Powers ............................... 142
Conclusions ...................................... 146
Chapter Four The Language of Demons and Angels ........ 147
Magical Kabbalah .................................. 149
Esotericism, Occultism, and Magic ..................... 159
Ritual Magic ...................................... 164
Ritual, Belief, and Secrecy ............................ 172
Manipulating the Demonic .......................... 185
viii CONTENTS
How to Summon a Demon .......................... 200
Conclusions ...................................... 206
Chapter Five Conclusion ............................. 213
Agrippan Interpretations ............................. 214
Historical Speculations .............................. 219
Theoretical Meditations ............................. 220
Appendix One Latin Quotations, De occulta philosophia ..... 227
Appendix Two De vanitate on Alchemy .................. 233
Bibliography ........................................ 239
Works by Agrippa (abbreviated) ....................... 239
Works on Agrippa ................................. 240
Premodern Sources ................................. 243
Modern Works .................................... 245
Index ............................................. 253
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Any significant work of research incurs many debts. I should first of all
like to thank my dissertation advisors, Allen G. Debus, Jonathan Z. Smith,
and Anthony C. Yu, for support and guidance through the long process.
A Mrs. Giles Whiting fellowship allowed me financial freedom to
complete the dissertation. Michael Bathgate, Richard Blum, Stephen
Clucas, Nicholas Clulee, Alex Dent-Young, Heather Hindman, Armando
Maggi, Hajime Nakatani, Allan Tulchin, and Robert Yelle all read and
discussed with me bits and pieces of the book in progress. My anonymous
review reader provided essential critical advice on philological issues
outside my competence. Jean Rainwater and the staff at the John Hay
Library of Brown University made the potentially agonizing process of
acquiring images simple and even enjoyable. Chris Mills of Lizard Lounge
Graphics (www.lizardlounge.com) helped immeasurably with all the
technical details of typesetting the text. Most of all, my wife, Sarah
Frederick, has supported me throughout the process in more ways than I
can count.