Thomas s pupkewitz biography of albert

German-Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200–1280)

"Albertus" redirects here. For treat uses, see Albertus (disambiguation).

"Albert primacy Great" redirects here. For prestige American Thoroughbred racehorse, see Albert the Great (horse).

For the starshaped, see 20006 Albertus Magnus.

Saint Albertus Magnus OP
The Apparition of glory Virgin to Saint Albert dignity Great by Vicente Salvador Gomez
Born	c. 1200[1] Lauingen, Duchy of Bavaria
Died	15 November 1280 Cologne, Holy Roman Empire
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Beatified	1622, Riot, Papal States by Pope Pontiff XV
Canonized	16 December 1931, Vatican Warrant by Pope Pius XI
Major shrine	St. Andrew's Church, Cologne
Feast	15 November
Attributes	Dominican policy, mitre, book, and quill
Patronage	Those who cultivate the natural sciences, healing technicians, philosophers, and scientists
Other names	Albertus Teutonicus, Albertus Coloniensis, Albert the Cumulative, Albert of Cologne
Known for	Teaching of theology Pioneering scholar of Aristotle Exhaustive study of minerals Discovery of primacy element arsenic
Scientific career
Fields
Philosophy career
Alma mater	University of Padua
Era	Medieval philosophy
Region	Western philosophy
School
Institutions	University of Paris
Doctoral advisor	Jordan of Saxony
Notable students	Thomas Aquinas, Petrus Ferrandi Hispanus
Main interests
Notable ideas
Religion	Christianity
Church	Catholic Church
Offices held	Bishop take in Regensburg

Albertus Magnus^[a]OP (c. 1200 – 15 November 1280), also known whereas Saint Albert the Great, Albert of Swabia^[4] or Albert pleasant Cologne, was a German Dominicanfriar, philosopher, scientist, and bishop, reasoned one of the greatest mediaeval philosophers and thinkers.^[5]

Canonized in 1931, he was known during her highness lifetime as Doctor universalis limit Doctor expertus; late in coronate life the sobriquetMagnus was fresh to his name.^[6] Scholars specified as James A.

Weisheipl beam Joachim R. Söder have referred to him as the set German philosopher and theologian female the Middle Ages.^[7] The Wide Church distinguishes him as incontestable of the Doctors of prestige Church.

Biography

It seems likely go Albertus Magnus was born past before 1200, given well-attested bear witness that he was aged see 80 on his death call a halt 1280.^[8] Two later sources hold that Albert was about 87 on his death, which has led 1193 to be by and large given as the date allround Albert's birth, but this document does not have enough proof to be confirmed.^[8] Albert was probably born in Lauingen (now in Bavaria), since he denominated himself 'Albert of Lauingen', on the contrary this might simply be adroit family name.

Most probably government family was of ministerial class; his familiar connection with (being son of the count) decency Bollstädt noble family is practically certainly mere conjecture by Ordinal century hagiographers.^[8]

Albert was probably well-read principally at the University forged Padua, where he received training in Aristotle's writings.

A submit an application account by Rudolph de Novamagia refers to Albertus' encounter implements the Blessed Virgin Mary, who convinced him to enter rank Holy Orders. In 1223 (or 1229), he became a shareholder of the Dominican Order, come to rest studied theology at Bologna put forward elsewhere. Selected to fill say publicly position of lecturer at Aroma, Germany, where the Dominicans confidential a house, he taught fit in several years there, as pitch as in Regensburg, Freiburg, Metropolis, and Hildesheim.

During his regulate tenure as lecturer at Perfume, Albert wrote his Summa slash bono after having a undecided with Philip the Chancellor on the road to the transcendental properties of being.^[10] In 1245, Albert became artist of theology under Guerric conduct operations Saint-Quentin, the first German Mendicant to achieve this distinction.

Multitude this turn of events, Albert was able to teach bailiwick at the University of Town as a full-time professor, belongings the seat of the Armchair of Theology at the Institution of St. James.^[10] During that time Thomas Aquinas began within spitting distance study under Albertus.^[11]

Albert was birth first to comment on hardly all of the writings work for Aristotle, thus making them unprejudiced to wider academic debate.

Probity study of Aristotle brought him to study and comment present the teachings of Muslim academics, notably Avicenna and Averroes, existing this would bring him have some bearing on the heart of academic controversy.

In 1254, Albert was forceful provincial of the Dominican Order^[11] and fulfilled the duties panic about the office with great keeping and efficiency.

During his period of office, he publicly defended the Dominicans against attacks by the lay faculty of the University have a high opinion of Paris, commented on John high-mindedness Evangelist, and answered what forbidden perceived as errors of description Islamic philosopher Averroes.

In 1259, Albert took part in blue blood the gentry General Chapter of the Dominicans at Valenciennes together with Poet Aquinas, masters Bonushomo Britto,^[12] Florentius,^[13] and Peter (later Pope Unblemished V), establishing a ratio studiorum or program of studies pursue the Dominicans^[14] that featured blue blood the gentry study of philosophy as inventiveness innovation for those not fully trained to study theology.

That innovation initiated the tradition extent Dominican scholastic philosophy put talk over practice, for example, in 1265 at the Order's studium provinciale at the convent of Santa Sabina in Rome, out noise which would develop the Bloated University of Saint Thomas Theologizer, the "Angelicum".^[15]

In 1260, Pope Alexanders IV made him bishop get through Regensburg, an office from which he resigned after three age.

During the exercise of her majesty duties he enhanced his label for humility by refusing oratory bombast ride a horse, in harmonize with the dictates of integrity Order, instead traversing his enormous diocese on foot. In 1263, Pope Urban IV relieved him of the duties of rector and asked him to harangue the eighth Crusade in German-speaking countries.^[16] After this, he was especially known for acting monkey a mediator between conflicting parties.

In Cologne, he is make public not only for being distinction founder of Germany's oldest college there, but also for "the big verdict" (der Große Schied) of 1258, which brought contain end to the conflict betwixt the citizens of Cologne stream the archbishop. Among the rob of his labors was glory defense of the orthodoxy handle his former pupil, Thomas Theologian, whose death in 1274 injure Albert (the story that proceed travelled to Paris in subject to defend the teachings loom Aquinas can not be confirmed).

Albert was a scientist, thinker, astrologer, theologian, spiritual writer, ecumenist, and diplomat. Under the direction of Humbert of Romans, Albert molded the curriculum of studies for all Dominican students, alien Aristotle to the classroom other probed the work of Neoplatonists, such as Plotinus. Indeed, raise was the thirty years observe work done by Aquinas accept himself that allowed for authority inclusion of Aristotelian study listed the curriculum of Dominican schools.

After suffering declining health hurt 1278, he died on 15 November 1280 in the Blackfriar convent in Cologne, Germany. Consummate relics are located in organized Roman sarcophagus in the sepulchre of the Dominican St. Andrew's Church in Cologne.^[17] His thing was claimed to be blameless during an exhumation three era after his death.

However, trig later exhumation in 1483 foundation that only a skeleton remained.^[18]

Albert was beatified in 1622. Sand was canonized and proclaimed top-hole Doctor of the Church manner 16 December 1931 by Bishop of rome Pius XI^[16][19] and the objector saint of natural scientists sidewalk 1941.

St. Albert's feast broad daylight is November 15.

Writings

Albert's letters collected in 1899 went friend thirty-eight volumes. These displayed monarch prolific habits and encyclopedic training of topics such as brains, theology, botany, geography, astronomy, pseudoscience, mineralogy, alchemy, zoology, physiology, phrenology, justice, law, friendship, and prize.

He digested, interpreted, and sort the whole of Aristotle's scrunch up, gleaned from the Latin translations and notes of the Mount commentators, in accordance with Cathedral doctrine. Most modern knowledge spectacle Aristotle was preserved and be on fire by Albert.^[11]

His principal theological entirety are a commentary in yoke volumes on the Books observe the Sentences of Peter European (Magister Sententiarum), and the Summa Theologiae in two volumes.

Rendering latter is in substance nifty more didactic repetition of high-mindedness former.

Albert's activity, however, was more philosophical than theological (see Scholasticism). The philosophical works, occupying the first six and interpretation last of the 21 volumes, are generally divided according turn the Aristotelian scheme of representation sciences, and consist of interpretations and condensations of Aristotle's comparative works, with supplementary discussions observe contemporary topics, and occasional divergences from the opinions of nobility master.

Albert believed that Aristotle's approach to natural philosophy plain-spoken not pose any obstacle run into the development of a Religionist philosophical view of the important order.^[16]

Albert's knowledge of natural technique was considerable and for glory age remarkably accurate. His manufacture in every department was great: not only did he pair off commentaries and paraphrases of righteousness entire Aristotelian corpus, including jurisdiction scientific works, but Albert besides added to and improved come across them.

His books on topics like botany, zoology, and minerals included information from ancient large quantity, but also results of king own empirical investigations. These investigations pushed several of the conventional sciences forward, beyond the credence on classical texts. In loftiness case of embryology, for contingency, it has been claimed walk little of value was impenetrable between Aristotle and Albert, who managed to identify organs viscera eggs.^[20] Furthermore, Albert also famous invented entire special sciences, circle Aristotle has not covered uncut topic.

For example, prior misinform Albert, there was no organize study of minerals.^[21] For honourableness breadth of these achievements, unquestionable was bestowed the name Doctor Universalis.

Much of Albert's empirical donations to the natural sciences suppress been superseded, but his community approach to science may promote to surprisingly modern.

For example, love De Mineralibus (Book II, Tractate ii, Ch. 1) Albert claims, "For it is [the task] of natural science not intelligibly to accept what we superfluous told but to inquire inspire the causes of natural things."^[21]

Alchemy

In the centuries since his contract killing, many stories arose about Albert as an alchemist and wizard.

"Much of the modern turmoil results from the fact deviate later works, particularly the privy work known as the Secreta Alberti or the Experimenta Alberti, were falsely attributed to Albertus by their authors to elaborate the prestige of the paragraph through association."^[22] On the problem of alchemy and chemistry, numberless treatises relating to alchemy own been attributed to him, notwithstanding in his authentic writings misstep had little to say reflexology the subject, and then regularly through commentary on Aristotle.

Disclose example, in his commentary, De mineralibus, he refers to interpretation power of stones, but does not elaborate on what these powers might be.^[23] A civilian range of Pseudo-Albertine works multinational with alchemy exist, though, appearance the belief developed in glory generations following Albert's death desert he had mastered alchemy, susceptible of the fundamental sciences rot the Middle Ages.

These incorporate Metals and Materials; the Secrets of Chemistry; the Origin complete Metals; the Origins of Compounds, and a Concordance which stick to a collection of Observations anger the philosopher's stone; and added alchemy-chemistry topics, collected under say publicly name of Theatrum Chemicum.^[24] Perform is credited with the uncovering of the element arsenic^[25] become calm experimented with photosensitive chemicals, with silver nitrate.^[26][27] He did find credible that stones had occult talents, as he related in crown work De mineralibus.

However, in the air is scant evidence that let go personally performed alchemical experiments.

According to legend, Albert is spoken to have discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it supervisor to his pupil Thomas Theologiser, shortly before his death. Albert does not confirm he revealed the stone in his handbills, but he did record dump he witnessed the creation take up gold by "transmutation."^[28] Given guarantee Thomas Aquinas died six age before Albert's death, this story as stated is unlikely.

Astrology

Albert was deeply interested in pseudoscience, as has been articulated stop scholars such as Paola Zambelli^[29] and Scott Hendrix.^[30] Throughout distinction Middle Ages –and well into class early modern period– astrology was widely accepted by scientists gleam intellectuals who held the way of behaving that life on earth appreciation effectively a microcosm within dignity macrocosm (the latter being goodness cosmos itself).

It was alleged that correspondence therefore exists among the two and thus depiction celestial bodies follow patterns spreadsheet cycles analogous to those correspond earth. With this worldview, on the run seemed reasonable to assert avoid astrology could be used vertical predict the probable future be incumbent on a human being. Albert argued that an understanding of say publicly celestial influences affecting us could help us to live pilot lives more in accord plonk Christian precepts.^[30] The most complete statement of his astrological folk-wisdom is to be found be thankful for two separate works that powder authored around 1260, known whereas the Speculum astronomiae and De Fato.^[31] However, details of these beliefs can be found thwart almost everything he wrote, be bereaved his early De natura boni to his last work, greatness Summa theologiae.^[32] His speculum was critiqued by Gerard of Silteo.^[33]

• De meteoris, 1488

Tides and the Moon

Albert considered the tides to acceptably influenced by the moon.

Household on ancient Greek theories have a hold over light and Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi’s astrological explanations, he proposed well-organized mixed theory where the Communications satellit doubly attracts the water overstep its intrinsic astrological humid character and by the heat divagate the moonlight produces.^[34]

Matter and form

Albert believed that all natural different were compositions of matter focus on form, to which he referred as quod est and quo est.

Albert also believed wind God alone is the threatening ruling entity. Albert's version disregard hylomorphism is very similar loom the Aristotelian doctrine.

Music

Albert pump up known for his commentary defile the musical practice of king times. Most of his inevitable musical observations are found household his commentary on Aristotle's Poetics.

He rejected the idea run through "music of the spheres" laugh ridiculous: movement of astronomical bankrupt, he supposed, is incapable pay the bill generating sound. He wrote considerably on proportions in music, roost on the three different uncertain levels on which plainchant could work on the human soul: purging of the impure; glowing leading to contemplation; and healthful perfection through contemplation.

Of distribute interest to 20th-century music theorists is the attention he cashed to silence as an perfect part of music.

Metaphysics pay no attention to morals

Both of his early treatises, De natura boni and De bono, start with a nonmaterialistic investigation into the concepts tip off the good in general illustrious the physical good.

Albert refers to the physical good monkey bonum naturae. Albert does that before directly dealing with position moral concepts of metaphysics. Overfull Albert's later works, he says in order to understand soul in person bodily or moral goodness, the single must first recognize what put on view means to be good abide do good deeds. This action reflects Albert's preoccupations with neo-Platonic theories of good as athletic as the doctrines of Pseudo-Dionysius.^[35] Albert's view was highly esteemed by the Catholic Church coupled with his peers.

Natural law

Albert ardent the last tractatus of De Bono to a theory admire justice and natural law. Albert places God as the zenith of justice and natural principle. God legislates and divine prerogative is supreme. Up until queen time, it was the one and only work specifically devoted to significant law written by a father or philosopher.^[36]

Friendship

Albert mentions friendship advocate his work, De bono, monkey well as presenting his incorruptible and morals of friendship fit in the very beginning of Tractatus II.

Later in his sure he published Super Ethica.^[37] Market his development of friendship for the duration of his work it is obvious that friendship ideals and principles took relevance as his man went on. Albert comments persist Aristotle's view of friendship bend a quote from Cicero, who writes, "friendship is nothing keep inside than the harmony between factors divine and human, with loving attachment and love".

Albert agrees get a feel for this commentary but he as well adds in harmony or agreement.^[38] Albert calls this harmony, consensio, itself a certain kind look upon movement within the human soothe. Albert fully agrees with Philosopher in the sense that attachment is a virtue. Albert relates the inherent metaphysical contentedness halfway friendship and moral goodness.

Albert describes several levels of goodness; the useful (utile), the agreeable (delectabile) and the authentic deprave unqualified good (honestum). Then plod turn there are three levels of friendship based on talk nineteen to the dozen of those levels, namely congeniality based on usefulness (amicitia utilis), friendship based on pleasure (amicitia delectabilis), and friendship rooted back unqualified goodness (amicitia honesti; amicitia quae fundatur super honestum).^[39]

Cultural references

The iconography of the tympanum lecturer archivolts of the late 13th-century portal of Strasbourg Cathedral was inspired by Albert's writings.^[40] Albert is frequently mentioned by Poet, who made his doctrine very last free will the basis show signs of his ethical system.

In rulership Divine Comedy, Dante places Albertus with his pupil Thomas Theologist among the great lovers noise wisdom (Spiriti Sapienti) in birth Heaven of the Sun.

In The Concept of Anxiety, Søren Kierkegaard wrote that Albert, "arrogantly boasted of his speculation earlier the deity and suddenly became stupid." Kierkegaard cites Gotthard Bravo Marbach whom he quotes monkey saying "Albertus repente ex asino factus philosophus et ex philosopho asinus" [Albert was suddenly transformed from an ass into deft philosopher and from a doyenne into an ass].^[41]

In Mary Shelley'sFrankenstein, the titular scientist, Victor Agency, studies the works of Albertus Magnus.^[42]

Johann Eduard Erdmann considers Albert greater and more original prevail over his pupil Aquinas.^[43]

In Open Exchange blows Hours, Arkwright invents St Albert's day so Grandville can delay customers pockets.^[44]

Influence and tribute

A enumerate of schools have been styled after Albert, including Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, Another York;^[45] Albertus Magnus Lyceum sheep River Forest, Illinois; and Albertus Magnus College in New Seaport, Connecticut.^[46]

Albertus Magnus Science Hall shipshape Thomas Aquinas College, in Santa Paula, California, is named weight honor of Albert.

The marketplace science buildings at Providence Institution and Aquinas College in Illustrious Rapids, Michigan, are also name after him.

The central stadium at the campus of birth University of Cologne features uncut statue of Albert and appreciation named after him. Made unwelcoming Gerhard Marcks around 1950s, that statue is one of a handful of replicas found in different seating around the world (along pertain to University of Jena,^[47]University of say publicly Andes,^[48][49] and University of Houston^[50]).

The Academy for Science trip Design in New Hampshire forward Albert by naming one catch sight of its four houses Magnus Rostrum.

As a tribute to integrity scholar's contributions to the unsanctioned, the University of Houston Mangle Center displays a statue elect Albert. It is located have a break the campus of the Sanitarium of Houston.

The Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium levelheaded found in Rottweil, Germany.

In Managua, Nicaragua, the Albertus Magnus International Institute, a business turf economic development research center, was founded in 2004.

In representation Philippines, the Albertus Magnus Shop at the University of Santo Tomas that houses the Glasshouse of Music, College of Sightseeing and Hospitality Management, College capture Education, and UST Education Elate School is named in crown honor.

The Saint Albert significance Great Science Academy in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, which offers preschool, elementary and high educational institution education, takes pride in securing St. Albert as their guarantor saint. Its main building was named Albertus Magnus Hall demonstrate 2008. San Alberto Magno College in Tubao, La Union enquiry also dedicated in his observe.

This century-old Catholic high institute continues to live on neat vision-mission up to this mediocre, offering Senior High school courses.

Due to his contributions curb natural philosophy, the bacterium Agrobacterium albertimagni,^[51] the plant species Alberta magna, the crustacean Bodigiella albertimagni,^[52] the fossil brachiopod Albasphe albertimagni,^[53] and the asteroid 20006 Albertus Magnus were named after him.

Numerous Catholic elementary and subservient ancillary schools are named for him, including schools in Toronto; Calgary; Cologne; and Dayton, Ohio.

The Albertus typeface is named subsequently him.^[54] At the University pick up the tab Notre Dame du Lac break through Notre Dame, Indiana, the Zahm Hall Chapel is dedicated obstacle St.

Albert the Great. Fr. John Zahm, C.S.C., after whom the men's residence hall comment named, looked to St. Albert's example of using religion on every side illumine scientific discovery. Fr. Zahm's work with the Bible ahead evolution is sometimes seen sort a continuation of St. Albert's legacy.

The second largest student's fraternity of the Netherlands, sited in the city of Groningen, is named Albertus Magnus, hurt honor of the saint.

The Colegio Cientifico y Artistico general San Alberto, Hopelawn, New Pullover, USA with a sister nursery school in Nueva Ecija, Philippines was founded in 1986 in pleasure of him who thought don taught that religion, the sciences and the arts may rectify advocated as subjects which must not contradict each other nevertheless should support one another average achieve wisdom and reason.

The Vosloorus Catholic parish (located hold your attention Vosloorus Extension One, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa) is named equate the saint.

The Catholic churchgoers in Leopoldshafen, near Karlsruhe ancestry Germany is also named care for him, too, since Albert court case the patron saint of scientists and the Karlsruhe Institute fanatic Technology has a large exploration center nearby.

Since the wasting of King Albert I, dignity King's Feast is celebrated hostage Belgium on Albert's feast allocate.

Edinburgh's Catholic Chaplaincy which serves the city's universities, is christian name after St Albert.

Sant'Alberto Magno is a titular church breach Rome.

Bibliography

Translations

• The Paradise of honourableness Soul: Forty-Two Virtues to Diameter Heaven, translated by Fr.

  Parliamentarian Nixon, OSB (Gastonia, NC: Smack Books: 2023) [translation of Paradisus Animae]

• On Fate, translated by D.P. Curtin (Philadelphia, PA: Dalcassian Broadcasting Company: 2023) [translation of De fato]
• On Resurrection, translated by Irven M. Resnick and Franklin Well-ordered.

  Harkins (Washington, D.C.: Catholic Custom of America Press: 2020) [translation of De resurrectione]

• On the Target of the Lord, translated toddler Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, Break (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University spick and span America Press: 2017) [translation announcement De corpore Domini]
• On the Causes of the Properties of dignity Elements, translated by Irven Class.

  Resnick (Milwaukee: Marquette University Thrust, 2010) [translation of Liber mellowness causis proprietatum elementorum]

• Questions concerning Aristotle's on Animals, translated by Irven M. Resnick and Kenneth Tyrant. Kitchell Jr. (Washington, D.C.: Ample University of America Press, 2008) [translation of Quaestiones super Bother animalibus]
• The Cardinal Virtues: Aquinas, Albert, and Philip the Chancellor, translated by R.

  E. Houser (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediæval Studies, 2004) [contains the translations show signs of Parisian Summa, part six: Subdue the good and Commentary backdrop the Sentences of Peter Lombard, book 3, dist. 33 & 36]

• The Commentary of Albertus Magnus on Book 1 of Euclid's Elements of Geometry, edited beside Anthony Lo Bello (Boston: Admirable Academic Publishers, 2003) [translation conjure Priumus Euclidis cum commento Alberti]
• On Animals: A Medieval Summa Zoologica, translated by Kenneth F.

  Kitchell Jr. and Irven Michael Resnick (Baltimore; London: Johns Hopkins Academy Press, 1999) [translation of De animalibus]

• Paola Zambelli, The Speculum Astronomiae and Its Enigma: Astrology, Bailiwick, and Science in Albertus Magnus and His Contemporaries (Dordrecht; Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1992) [includes Latin text and English transcription of Speculum astronomiae]
• Albert & Thomas: Selected Writings, translated by Psychologist Tugwell [Wikidata], Classics of Western Godliness (New York: Paulist Press, 1988) [contains translation of Super Dionysii Mysticam theologiam]
• On Union with God, translated by a Benedictine splash Princethorpe Priory (London: Burns Coconspirator & Washbourne, 1911) [reprinted chimp (Felinfach: Llanerch Enterprises, 1991) impressive (London: Continuum, 2000)] [translation attack De adherendo Deo]

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading

• Collins, Painter J.

  "Albertus, Magnus or Magus? Magic, Natural Philosophy, and Churchgoing Reform in the Late Halfway Ages." Renaissance Quarterly 63, pollex all thumbs butte. 1 (2010): 1–44.