Forbidden Knowledge: Medicine, Science, and Censorship in Early Modern Italy

The book Forbidden Knowledge explores the censorship of medical books from their proliferation in print through the prohibitions placed on them during the Counter-Reformation. It highlights how early modern physicians evaluated the utility of banned books and facilitated their continued circulation in conversation with Catholic authorities. This censorship in medicine, which preceded the Copernican debate in astronomy by sixty years, has had a lasting impact on how we talk about new and controversial developments in scientific knowledge.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Forbidden Knowledge delves into the intriguing journey of medical books, from their widespread proliferation in print to the restrictions imposed upon them during the Counter-Reformation. In this captivating exploration, historian Hannah Marcus sheds light on the complex dynamics that governed the evaluation and circulation of these forbidden texts.

Through meticulous archival research, Marcus unveils how early modern physicians approached the utility of banned books, engaging in a delicate dialogue with Catholic authorities to facilitate their continued circulation. What emerges is a fascinating revelation: the notion of scientific utility, once believed to have emerged during the Scientific Revolution, had its roots in earlier times, originating from the confines of ecclesiastical censorship and the unwavering desire to preserve and utilize these invaluable medical resources.

This censorship in medicine, which predated the Copernican debate in astronomy by sixty years, left a lasting imprint on our understanding of the discourse surrounding new and contentious scientific advancements. Marcus's book is a testament to the intricate interplay between efforts to control intellectual discourse and the undeniable value of knowledge.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, Forbidden Knowledge serves as a timely and masterful exploration of this captivating subject. It invites readers to delve into the historical complexities, the power dynamics, and the enduring impact of censorship on the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226829470