PAOLA ZAMBELLI

THE SPECULUM ASTRONOMIAE

AND ITS ENIGMA
Astrology, Theology and Science
in Albertus Magnus and his Contemporaries

KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS

DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LONDON

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editorial Preface

IX

Preface

XI

PARTI
A HISTORIOGRAPHICAL CASE-STUDY

Chapter One / Mandonnet, the Speculum Astronomiae and the Condemnation of 1277
Chapter Two / Further Condemnations, Debates and 'Consultationes'
Chapter Three / Mandonnet's Hypothesis: Acquiescence and
Doubts
Chapter Four / Thorndike's Consistency. His Researches on the
Speculum Astronomiae from 1923 to 1955

PART II
DISCUSSIONS OF ASTRONOMY AT THE TIME OF ALBERT

Chapter Five / Albert's 'Auctoritas': Contemporaries and Collaborators

Chapter Six / Astrology in the Early Dominican School and Gerard
ofFeltre
Chapter Seven / Astrology in Albert's Undisputed Works
Chapter Eight / Are "Deaf and Dumb" Stars and Their Movers at
the Origins of Modern Science? Another Historiographical Casestudy
Chapter Nine / Not the Heavens, but God Alone Is Endowed with
Life and the Stars Are Simply His Instruments
Chapter Ten / Divine Providence and the Meaning of "Interrogationes"

VII

3
11
25
33

43

45
51
61

75
83
95

VIII
PART III

TRADITIONS, COLLECTIONS AND HERITAGE

103

Chapter Eleven / Albert's Biblionomia

105
Chapter Twelve / The Literary Tradition of the Speculum and Its Role
as a Reference Book
113
Conclusion
121
Notes
ALBERTUS MAGNUS: Speculwn

127
Astronomiae

(Latin text established by S. Caroti, M. Pereira, S. Zamponi and

P. Zambelli.
203
English translation by C.F.S. Burnett, K. Lippincott, D. Pingree
and P. Zambelli.
204
Abbreviations and List of Manuscripts)
206
Historical Commentary by S. Caroti, M. Pereira, S. Zamponi and P.
Zambelli: Sources of the Speculum Astronomiae
274
Bibliography
1. Printed Primary Sources
2. Secondary Literature

307
311

Index of Names
Index of Manuscripts

335
351