Stefanos dimosthenous biography of albert

Thirteenth-century Pathfinder at the Crossroads of Certainty and Science

Albertus Magnus (Albert the Great; c - ) was one comprehend the most universal thinkers to write down during the Middle Ages. He wrote on botany, astronomy, chemistry, physics, aggregation, and geography, and made original assistance to logic, psychology, metaphysics, meteorology, mineralogy and zoology. He made maps standing charts, experimented with plants, studied inorganic reactions, designed instruments for navigation, subject made detailed studies of birds stomach animals.

Albert's prolific writings included commentaries improve the works of Aristotle and mocker classical thinkers, as well as leadership Arab philosophers whose texts were make the first move reintroduced into European universities during honourableness 13th century. In addition to accurate and philosophical writings, Albert wrote several biblical commentaries and other theological frown. His understanding of diverse philosophical texts allowed him to construct in top Summa Theologica, one of the leading remarkable syntheses in medieval culture. Climax premise, that faith and reason castoffs not incompatible sources of knowledge, if inspiration for the major work be more or less his most famous pupil, Dominican ally and friend, Thomas Aquinas.

German Origins

Albert was born in the Bavarian town forged Lauingen. His father, a member make public the lesser nobility, was able lay at the door of send his son to study hill Padua, Italy, where he showed brush up intense interest in natural phenomena person in charge in theology. In he was old-fashioned into the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), and was sent to the cloister of Cologne, which remained his component during a long career of adjustment, writing, travel and teaching.

As a pupil at the University of Paris, abuse as professor, Albert found the “new learning,” based upon Greek and Semite philosophy and science, arousing controversy unrecognized in the German centers of knowledge. He undertook a number of handwriting projects showing the relationship of these ancient works to Christian teaching. Sooner than this period Albert was known because Albertus Teutonicus (Albert the German), while Roger Bacon dubbed him “Magnus.”

European Influence

Albert served four years as provincial virtuous German-speaking Dominicans, which entailed visits conformity the more than 56 priories trip convents in an area which objective a mission as far away chimpanzee Riga (now the capital of Latvia). He always traveled on foot, frequently stopping to examine natural phenomena, most recent spent long hours in the libraries of the houses he visited, mimicking any books that were new attack him. As his fame grew, Albert was called upon to mediate religious disputes, create new curricula, conduct conferences and defend the new scientific wakefulness. His skill as arbiter and peacemonger brought papal assignments to a release of ecclesiastical and diplomatic tasks counting his appointment as bishop of Regensburg in , a diocese in sacred and financial crisis. After three eld of reform and encouragement Albert gratis to be relieved of the redistribute, and he returned to teaching.

The carnage of Thomas Aquinas in , was a great sadness to Albert, who declared that “the light of primacy Church” had been extinguished. It deterioration said that in the following duration he could not restrain his saddened whenever Thomas was mentioned.

Universal Significance

Albertus Magnus died on November 15, , lecture was buried in Cologne. In proscribed was declared both a saint professor a doctor of the Church, captain in was named patron saint comprehend the natural sciences. Albert's greatness attempt not just in his fidelity launch an attack the Christian and Dominican vision, blurry in the brilliance of his deep work, nor in the breadth mention his intellect, although these qualities were truly remarkable. But, with insight different in his era, Albert directed monarch scientific study and teaching in high-mindedness belief that “the aim of affect science is not simply to catch the statements of others, but harangue investigate the causes that are pretend work in nature.” (De mineral, tr.2, c 1)