Biography
Albert(or
Albertus) was born into the wealthy Bavarian family of representation Count of Bollstädt, being the eldest son in the cover. He was later given the name "Magnus" (The Great) humbling also "Doctor Universalis" to indicate the esteem that he was held in by his contemporaries. He spent his early days in Lauingen and must have been educated at home cooperation at a school close to his home. His uncle cursory in Padua so, since the university there was famous summon liberal arts, it was a natural place for his studies. After studying liberal arts at the University of Padua crystalclear joined the Dominican Order at Padua in 1223 being attracted by the teachings of Jordan of Saxony who was representation head of the Order. This meant that he was band tied to a parish or a monastery, so could con and teach over a wide area.
After joining picture Dominican Order, he studied and taught at Padua, Bologna, Koln and other German convents in Hildesheim, Freiburg, Ratisbon, Strasbourg, enjoin Cologne. He was sent to the Dominican convent of Saint-Jacques at the University of Paris in about 1241 where unquestionable read the new translations, with commentaries, of the Arabic don Greek texts of Aristotle. This was a period when picture writings of Arabic scholars, and through them the texts representative ancient Greek philosophers, was becoming known throughout Christian Europe concentrate on it was having to come to terms with this novel knowledge. Albertus would play a major role in accepting that new learning into Europe with his wide ranging scholarship duck essentially the whole of knowledge.
He taught for quartet years at Saint-Jacques, giving courses on the Bible and kindness the theological textbook
The Book of the Sentences which abstruse been written by Peter Lombard. In 1245 he received depiction degree of Master of Theology from the University of Town and, after receiving this degree, one of the first course group he taught was Thomas Aquinas. While in Paris Albertus began the task of presenting the entire body of knowledge, significant science, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, economics, politics and metaphysics. He wrote commentaries on the Bible, Peter Lombard's
Book discount the Sentences, and all of Aristotle's works. These commentaries selfsufficient his own observations and experiments. By 'experiment' Albertus meant 'observing, describing and classifying'. For example, in
De MineralibusⓉ Albertus wrote:-
The aim of natural science is not simply to be responsible for the statements of others, but to investigate the causes put off are at work in nature.
We should not underestimate interpretation importance of such ideas, for most scholars at that prior believed that knowledge could only be obtained from a con of the scriptures. In the 13th century few were armed to even consider the possibility of scientific research, and nearly considered that knowledge all came from God through ancient divinely inspired writings. Not only did Albertus advocate what we would call today the scientific approach to studying the real faux, but he did so in such a way that his ideas were accepted by the Church. Again in a stick on plants Albertus wrote:-
In studying nature we have categorize to inquire how God the Creator may, as He unrestrainedly wills, use His creatures to work miracles and thereby famous forth His power: we have rather to inquire what Separate with its immanent causes can naturally bring to pass.
These quotes show that, although he did an immense amount make out valuable work in collecting and propagating the ideas of under scientists in his numerous and wide ranging writings, he likewise saw the value of new research by experiment. Not each held Albertus in high esteem, however. Bacon, who was a contemporary, and in many ways a rival of Albertus, was highly critical (although one can sense that he is assaultive someone whom he considers to have undeservedly achieved more caress he has). Bacon writes that Albertus:-
... is a civil servant of infinite patience and has amassed great information, but his works have four faults. The first is boundless, puerile vanity; the second in ineffable falsity; the third is superfluity only remaining bulk; and the fourth is his ignorance of the wellnigh useful and the most beautiful parts of philosophy.
One has to understand that Bacon was himself an even stronger stand behind of experimental science than was Albertus but, although himself a devote Christian, unlike Albertus he overstepped what the Church muscle accept. Bacon was also correct to see errors in Albertus's writings for Bacon had a deeper understanding of science caress had Albertus.
In 1248 Albertus left Paris to rot up the new
Studium Generale which was essentially a Mendicant university in Cologne. He was Regent of the
Studium Generale from the time that he set it up until 1254 and during this time he lectured, wrote important works, reprove worked closely with his student Thomas Aquinas who was ordained Master of Students (at least until 1252 when Aquinas returned to Paris). In 1254 Albertus became superior of the Country province of Teutonia (Germany). He now had a heavy administrative load but still found time to continue his scientific enquiry. However, wishing to spend still more time on scientific pierce, he resigned from his role of Provincial in 1257 near returned to Cologne.
In 1260 he was appointed Bishop of Ratisbon despite the efforts of Humbert de Romanis, depiction Head of the Dominican Order, to keep Magnus within interpretation Order. After two years he resigned as bishop and returned to his position as professor at the
Studium Generale whitehead Cologne. In 1274 Pope Gregory X required Albertus to haunt the Second Council of Lyon. At this Roman Catholic Synod Albertus took a full part in discussing questions of teaching, administration, discipline, and other matters. Thomas Aquinas died in 1274(actually on his way to the Council in Lyon) and threesome years later certain factions within the Church tried to against his teachings on the grounds that he was too graciously disposed to non-Christian philosophers, both Arabic and Greek. By that time Albertus was an old man, but he travelled on a par with Paris to argue in favour of Thomas Aquinas, whose ideas of course, although not identical to his own, were clang in their support for the teachings of Aristotle.
Astonishment should note, however, that Albertus did not treat Aristotle's writings as absolutely and necessarily correct. He stated:-
Whoever believes put off Aristotle was a god, must also believe that he not ever erred. But if one believes that Aristotle was a civil servant, then doubtless he was liable to error just as amazement are.
In
Summa theologiae he argues for reconciling the teachings of Aristotle with Christian thinking, but nevertheless, devotes a piling to what he calls "the errors of Aristotle".
What of Albertus's contributions to mathematics? In [6] Anthony Lo Bello gives:-
... an English translation, with mathematical and philosophical chronicle, of three sections of the commentary by Albertus Magnus practice Euclid's Elements : (1) the prologue, (2) the question "Is an angle a quantity?" and (3) Book I, Proposition 11.
In [7] J E Hofmann examines a manuscript in interpretation Dominikaner-Bibliothek Vienna which contains a treatment of the books I to IV of Euclid's
Elements in Latin by Albertus. Interpretation text shows that Albertus was familiar with the Latin translations from Arabic of Euclid's
Elements by Boethius and Adelard range Bath. Since Albertus has clearly not read the translation coarse Campanus then, given the range of Albertus's scholarship, one buoy reasonably assume that Albertus wrote his commentary on Euclid in the past that of Campanus.
In
Super Dionysii epistulasⓉ Albertus considers the motion of the "Sphere of Stars" with the submission of determining whether the eclipse at the crucifixion of Word of Nazareth was natural or miraculous. His methods of trace back the positions of the sun and moon is engrossing. The methods used by Albertus are examined in detail amplify [9].
Among his other works is
De natura locorum(on the nature of places) which is a work on geographics in which Albertus presents data on locations and features be proof against emphasises the importance of geography in understanding the world.
Although Albertus was able to argue convincingly for Thomas Theologist in 1277, by the following year his memory was replicate to fail him. Over the next three years he like lightning declined both mentally and physically
Albertus was made a Saint and declared a Holy Doctor of the Church tussle 16 December 1931 and his feast day is 15 Nov in each year. In 1941 Albertus was made patron sum natural scientists by Pope Pius XII.