De Incantationibus

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ment, Continuing from the previous page: "instrument." which we use in sifting flour, which is commonly called a sieve sieve: original "tamisium," a tool for separating flour from bran, was moved by that same man using words alone. And when that enchanter enchanter: original "praecantator," one who recites spells or incantations had said, "Whom do you seek?" young boys looked into a glass vessel and saw various figures original: "personas"; likely referring to spirits or apparitions appearing in a scrying glass.. Since these things seemed to you to be outside the order of nature, you asked me to reveal to you what I think about this—especially what the Peripatetics Peripatetics: followers of Aristotle's philosophy, known for walking while discussing (from the Greek "peripatētikos"). might likely say regarding it. You write further, asking whether I agree with the three laws That demons exist. that introduce the existence of demons. Truly, there is no reason for us to doubt, since it seems very clear that these marvelous effects are brought about by the demons themselves. There is also a no less clear solution in the works of Avicenna Ibn Sina (c. 980–1037), a Persian polymath whose views on the soul's power over matter were highly influential in Medieval and Renaissance thought., since he posits that all material things obey an intellect that is well-disposed and elevated from matter. Therefore, rain, hail, and other things of this kind can be produced by the human soul original: "anima". Aristotle's opinion on demons. But either of these views clearly opposes Aristotle; for Aristotle neither admitted the existence of demons, as the laws affirm, nor did he allow that any agent...

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