A History of Magic and Experimental Science

work by Thorndike

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July 19, 2026

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Lynn Thorndike's A History of Magic and Experimental Science (1923–58) examines two distinct approaches that share the belief that human actions can influence the natural world. The study of magic's history is crucial due to the impact of anthropological theory. Early figures like Sir Edward Tylor viewed magic as a "pseudo-science" based on a symbolic principle of analogy, while Sir James Frazer placed magic, religion, and science in an evolutionary scheme. Thorndike's work distinguishes between these approaches by considering effectiveness and rationality, criteria that are essentially modern.12

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historiography
History of science
…in this vein, Lynn Thorndike’s A History of Magic and Experimental Science (1923–58), discussed two seemingly distinct approaches that share the belief that human practice can affect the natural world. Distinguishing between the two approaches requires criteria—effectiveness and rationality—that are essentially modern. Sorting out what was scientific work can easily…
Read More
…in this vein, Lynn Thorndike’s A History of Magic and Experimental Science (1923–58), discussed two seemingly distinct approaches that share the belief that human practice can affect the natural world. Distinguishing between the two approaches requires criteria—effectiveness and rationality—that are essentially modern. Sorting out what was scientific work can easily…
Read More