Page 6 - Compound of Compounds

Introduction

Adam McLean

Albertus Magnus (1193 or 1206-1280), born to a noble family in Bavaria as Albert
von Bollstädt, became a Dominican monk in Padua in 1223 where he was studying. He
had a brilliant philosophical and theological mind and after completing his studies he
taught theology at Hildesheim, Strasburg, and Cologne. In 1245 he received his
doctorate and was appointed as master of Theology at the University of Paris. Later he
was made Bishop of Ratisbon, but resigned after a few years in order to take up a post
of professor in the Studium at Cologne and continue his studies. In his long life he was
able to produce a considerable volume of writings.

He must have been one of the most able minds of thirteenth century and was able
to teach, research and explore many of the deep philosophical and theological questions
of that time. He drew on Aristotlean ideas to throw light on these problems, and
especially engaged with the natural sciences. For the breadth of his intellectual
exploration he became known as Doctor Universalis, the Doctor with universal
knowledge. He studied the scientific writings of Aristotle and tried to bring them into
some coexistence with the Christian theology of the thirteenth century. He had a
profound influence on the scholasticism which was to dominate European thought for
many centuries and embodied the reconciliation of reason and orthodox faith.

For Albertus, one should not just see Nature as emanating from God and only
explicable through Theology, but one should interrogate and explore the natural world to
discover how it works. Thus in his Treatise on Plants he goes as far as to say
“Experiment is the only safe guide in such investigations”.

In studying nature we have not to inquire how God the Creator may, as He
freely wills, use His creatures to work miracles and thereby show forth His
power: we have rather to inquire what Nature with its immanent causes can

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