Book ID: CBB001251249

A Man of Misconceptions: The Life of an Eccentric in an Age of Change (2012)

unapi

Glassie, John (Author)


Penguin


Publication Date: 2012
Physical Details: xvi + 333 pp.; ill.; bibl.; index
Language: English

This is the vivid, unconventional story of Athanasius Kircher, the legendary seventeenth-century priest-scientist who was either a great genius or a colossal crackpot . . . or a bit of both. Kircher's interests knew no bounds. From optics to music to magnetism to medicine, he offered up inventions and theories for everything, and they made him famous across Europe. His celebrated museum in Rome featured magic lanterns, speaking statues, the tail of a mermaid, and a brick from the Tower of Babel. Holy Roman Emperors were his patrons, popes were his friends, and in his spare time he collaborated with the Baroque master Bernini. But Kircher lived during an era of radical transformation, in which the old approach to knowledge---what he called the art of knowing---was giving way to the scientific method and modern thought. A Man of Misconceptions traces the rise, success, and eventual fall of this fascinating character as he attempted to come to terms with a changing world. With humor and insight, John Glassie returns Kircher to his rightful place as one of history's most unforgettable figures.

...More

Description On the life and works of Athanasius Kircher (1602--1680).


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001251249/

Similar Citations

Book Fletcher, John Edward; Fletcher, Elizabeth; Trompf, G. W.; Kircher, Athanasius; (2011)
A Study of the Life and Works of Athanasius Kircher, “Germanus incredibilis”: With a Selection of His Unpublished Correspondence and an Annotated Translation of His Autobiography (/isis/citation/CBB001251872/)

Book Evans, Harry B.; (2012)
Exploring the Kingdom of Saturn: Kircher's Latium and Its Legacy (/isis/citation/CBB001252754/)

Book Rößler, Hole; Burkart, Lucas; Asmussen, Tina; Furrer, Frederik; (2013)
Theatrum Kircherianum: Wissenskulturen und Bücherwelten im 17. Jahrhundert (/isis/citation/CBB001551220/)

Article Ingrid D. Rowland; (2005)
Poetry and Prophecy in the Encyclopedic System of Athanasius Kircher (/isis/citation/CBB859505830/)

Article Christopher M. Graney; (2019)
How to Make the Earth Orbit the Sun in 1614 (/isis/citation/CBB573664538/)

Article Francesco Luzzini; (2013)
Il paradosso di Kircher (che paradosso non è) (/isis/citation/CBB321171622/)

Article Maurizio Torrini; (2005)
Da Galileo a Kircher: percorsi della scienza gesuitica (/isis/citation/CBB936700551/)

Article Daxecker, Franz; (2000)
Der Jesuit Athanasius Kircher und sein Organum mathematicum (/isis/citation/CBB000111495/)

Thesis Bianchi, Eric; (2011)
Prodigious Sounds: Music and Learning in the World of Athanasius Kircher (/isis/citation/CBB001567278/)

Chapter Mayer-Deutsch, Angela; (2008)
The Ideal Musaeum Kircherianum and the Ignatian Exercitia spiritualia (/isis/citation/CBB000831242/)

Book Pangrazi, Tiziana; (2009)
La Musurgia Universalis di Athanasius Kircher: Contenuti, fonti, terminologia (/isis/citation/CBB001024859/)

Book Findlen, Paula; (2004)
Athanasius Kircher: The Last Man Who Knew Everything (/isis/citation/CBB000430243/)

Book Borgato, Maria Teresa; (2002)
Giambattista Riccioli e il merito scientifico dei gesuiti nell'età barocca (/isis/citation/CBB000201272/)

Authors & Contributors
Zanovello, Giovanni
Jensen, Amanda
Furrer, Frederik
Asmussen, Tina
Burkart, Lucas
Findlen, Paula
Concepts
Science and religion
Biographies
Natural philosophy
Music
Natural history
Music theory
Time Periods
17th century
Early modern
Places
Europe
Rome (Italy)
Italy
Germany
Philippines
India
Institutions
Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment