By analogy to the element of the stars

The divine in Jean Fernel's and William Harvey's theories of generation

Bibliographic Data

ID12903138
AuthorsXiaona Wang (0000-0001-6173-4102, University of Edinburgh, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume29
Issue3
Pages371-387
Publication date2019-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueIntellectual History Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1749-6977 • E-ISSN: 1749-6985
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17496977.2019.1640998
OpenAlexW2965757957
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

In trying to develop their respective theories of generation, Jean Fernel and William Harvey both drew repeatedly on Aristotle's suggestion that something “analogous to the element of the stars” was involved. The analogy with the stars suggested something celestial or divine, and both thinkers subscribed to the dominant assumption that God is the primary cause of generation, but, as natural philosophers, they were expected to develop theories based on secondary causes. Fernel simply defined “divine” as “hidden” or “occult”, and developed a sophisticated occult explanation of how generation takes place. Harvey, by contrast, rejected occult explanations, and, although offering tentative alternatives, ultimately failed to discover any convincing naturalistic account. It is the contention of this paper that Harvey resorted, therefore, to the direct intervention of God in the process of generation

Analogy · Art · Element (criminal law · Epistemology · Literature · Natural (archaeology · Naturalism · Occult · Evolution and Science Education · History · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

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