Hermitix Giordano Bruno and Frances Yates, Magic and Modern Science with Allison Coudert
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Aug 10, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Allison Coudert, a specialist in alchemy and Kabbalah from UC Davis, shares her insights on Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition. She delves into the intriguing intersections of magic, science, and religion during the Renaissance. Coudert critiques Frances Yates' interpretations of Bruno, highlighting the philosopher's challenge to conventional doctrines. The conversation also touches on the resurgence of mysticism, the role of podcasts in shaping discourse, and the importance of curiosity in education.
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Learning Under Frances Yates
- I studied at the Warburg Institute under Frances Yates and stayed for years.
- Her mentorship opened my career and reshaped my research focus.
Religion, Magic And Science Were Entwined
- In the early modern period religion, magic, and science were inseparable.
- Robert Boyle framed natural philosophy as reading the 'book of nature' and a priestly task.
Yates's Take On Bruno's Influence
- Frances Yates argued Bruno was shaped by Hermeticism and Florentine Platonism rather than by modern science.
- She credited Hermetic ideas with promoting human agency to investigate and improve the world.
