Terry Jones' Medieval Lives: The Philosopher
Episode score
8.1
Great
The Philosopher
- 5.
- Season: 1
- Episode: 5
- First Aired: 1/17/2004
Terry Jones examination of Philosophers, their mythic pursuit of a "stone", alchemy and medicine in the Medieval world. Dispelling myths on the fanciful ideas of belief in a flat earth. The ideas of the Franciscan Friar Roger Bacon. Holistic medicine and transmutation. The actual basis of scientific thought and how the Church fomented these pursuits for glory and profit. To the four humours of Medieval health Terry Jones adds his own while he travels to unearth their place in Medieval life. Add a recap »
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- On the DVD set, this episoded is called 'The Philosopher'. edit »
- Terry: In the 11th century, a monk at Malmesbury abbey by the name of Elmer, fitted himself out with a pair of wings and jumped from the high tower. His flying machine carried him a full 200 yards, before he crash landed, breaking both legs. edit »
- Terry: In the Middle Ages, they thought the world was flat. It's a well-known fact. Except that it's a fact that was made up in the 19th century. edit »
- Terry: When you accuse Medieval medicine as being dangerous, it's worth bearing in mind that today, in the United States, more people die of medical mistakes each year, than from road accidents, breast cancer and aids combined. edit »
- Terry (opening lines): Once upon a time, when all was shrouded in ignorance, there lived a philosopher. He sought the Philosopher's Stone, that would transmute base metal into gold, and the Elixir of Life, that would bring eternal youth. "Philosopher" was the closest term the Middle Ages had to "scientist", but of course we know that they weren't real scientists, because they had no idea of scientific method. The Medieval world floundered in superstition and ignorance. The Church persecuted seekers after knowledge, medicine was more likely to kill you than cure, and people didn't even know the shape of the world. But are we sure they were so very ignorant? Or is it us, who don't know as much as we think we do, about them? edit »
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Show Score
6.9
great
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