27 Facts About Albert Magnus

1.

Two later sources say that Albert Magnus was about 87 on his death, which has led 1193 to be commonly given as the date of Albert Magnus's birth, but this information does not have enough evidence to be confirmed.

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2.

Albert Magnus was probably educated principally at the University of Padua, where he received instruction in Aristotle's writings.

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3.

In 1245, Albert Magnus became master of theology under Gueric of Saint-Quentin, the first German Dominican to achieve this distinction.

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4.

Albert Magnus was the first to comment on virtually all of the writings of Aristotle, thus making them accessible to wider academic debate.

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5.

In 1254 Albert Magnus was made provincial of the Dominican Order, and fulfilled the duties of the office with great care and efficiency.

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6.

In 1259 Albert Magnus took part in the General Chapter of the Dominicans at Valenciennes together with Thomas Aquinas, masters Bonushomo Britto, Florentius, and Peter establishing a ratio studiorum or program of studies for the Dominicans that featured the study of philosophy as an innovation for those not sufficiently trained to study theology.

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7.

Albert Magnus was a scientist, philosopher, astrologer, theologian, spiritual writer, ecumenist, and diplomat.

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8.

Albert Magnus was canonized and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 December 1931 by Pope Pius XI and the patron saint of natural scientists in 1941.

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9.

Albert Magnus digested, interpreted, and systematized the whole of Aristotle's works, gleaned from the Latin translations and notes of the Arabian commentators, in accordance with Church doctrine.

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10.

Albert Magnus believed that Aristotle's approach to natural philosophy did not pose any obstacle to the development of a Christian philosophical view of the natural order.

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11.

Albert Magnus is credited with the discovery of the element arsenic and experimented with photosensitive chemicals, including silver nitrate.

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12.

Albert Magnus did believe that stones had occult properties, as he related in his work De mineralibus.

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13.

Albert Magnus was deeply interested in astronomy, as has been articulated by scholars such as Paola Zambelli and Scott Hendrix.

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14.

Albert Magnus argued that an understanding of the celestial influences affecting us could help us to live our lives more in accord with Christian precepts.

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15.

Albert Magnus believed that all natural things were compositions of matter and form, he referred to it as quod est and quo est.

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16.

Albert Magnus believed that God alone is the absolute ruling entity.

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17.

Albert Magnus is known for his commentary on the musical practice of his times.

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18.

Albert Magnus rejected the idea of "music of the spheres" as ridiculous: movement of astronomical bodies, he supposed, is incapable of generating sound.

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19.

Albert Magnus wrote extensively on proportions in music, and on the three different subjective levels on which plainchant could work on the human soul: purging of the impure; illumination leading to contemplation; and nourishing perfection through contemplation.

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20.

Albert Magnus's view was highly valued by the Catholic Church and his peers.

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21.

Albert Magnus devoted the last tractatus of De Bono to a theory of justice and natural law.

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22.

Albert Magnus agrees with this commentary but he adds in harmony or agreement.

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23.

Albert Magnus calls this harmony, consensio, itself a certain kind of movement within the human spirit.

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24.

Albert Magnus fully agrees with Aristotle in the sense that friendship is a virtue.

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25.

Albert Magnus relates the inherent metaphysical contentedness between friendship and moral goodness.

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26.

Albert Magnus describes several levels of goodness; the useful, the pleasurable and the authentic or unqualified good .

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27.

Albert Magnus is frequently mentioned by Dante, who made his doctrine of free will the basis of his ethical system.

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