Chapter III: Pliny’s Natural History

A fitting starting-point for our discussion 37

I. _The Character of the Work_:
Its extensive treatment of both science and magic 37
Objections to regarding it as a true picture of ancient
science 38
Reasons for so regarding it 39
Pliny the Boswell of ancient science 40
Pliny’s relation to mediæval science 41

II. _Pliny’s Discussion of Magic_:
Its significance 41
Pliny’s remarks concerning the history of magic 42
“Magic” false, according to Pliny 42
“Magic” an obscene and criminal art, according to Pliny 44

III. _Illustrations of Pliny’s Fundamental Belief in Magic_:
Inconsistency of his declared scepticism 44
His belief that animals possess magic properties 45
His belief that plants have similar occult virtues 45
Strange qualities of minerals 46
Magical powers of man 47
Efficacy of magical ceremonial 48
Pliny’s belief unmistakable 49
Though probably limited 49
Question as to extent of his belief in astrology 50
His account of the heavenly bodies 50
Influence of the stars upon our planet 51
Influence of the stars upon man 52
Belief of Pliny in portents 53
Attitude of Pliny towards various popular superstitious
observances 53
Pliny not esoteric 54
Conclusions to be drawn from the _Natural History_ 54

CHAPTER IV
SOME ANTECEDENTS OF THE BELIEF IN MAGIC IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Derivative and cosmopolitan character of intellectual life during the imperial period 56 Extent of our discussion of its antecedents 56 Question as to freedom of Greek thought from magic 57 Some evidence to the contrary 57 Doctrines of the Stoics favorable to magic 59 Pythagorean theory of numbers 59 Attitude of Plato towards “magic,” as he understood the word 60 Plato’s fantastic view of nature 60 Aristotle’s acceptance of astrology 61 Aristotle’s _History of Animals_ 62 Cato’s _De Re Rustica_ 63