Authors/Marcus Ambrosius

Dedications, Prefaces, Postfaces

• Dedication, 20 May 1566, Marcus Ambrosius to Mayor and City Council of Danzig; German (Source: BP079)

from: Paracelsus, Meteora, ed. Marcus Ambrosius, 1566

Ambrosius discusses the ancient philosophical belief that true wisdom is attained through self-knowledge, calling man a "microcosm" or a reflection of all of creation. He emphasizes the importance of understanding our natural world - the universe and the four elements - which are intricately tied to our existence. Ambrosius commends the scholars of the past, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Democritus, but critiques their tendency to restrict their understanding to earthly matters while overlooking or simplifying heavenly ones. He highlights the insights of Paracelsus, who dived deeper into understanding the creations of God, arguing that his teachings align better with Christian beliefs than those of Aristotle or any other philosopher. Ambrosius uses the example of the Aristotelian explanation of wind and critiques it as inadequate, suggesting that a deeper divine influence is at work. He urges the reader to study diligently, avoid quick judgement, and compare various philosophic perspectives before forming an opinion.