Abstract: This paper aims to understand Dee’s early scientific ideas (1550s-70s) on their own terms and within the context of early modern disciplinary complexities. I argue that Dee developed his new mixed-mathematical approach to physics not only to engage with the sixteenth-century European movement to break the disciplinary barriers between mathematics and physics, but as his own way to manifest the scholastic “occult virtues”. The paper claims that for Dee the key to calculate and manipulate celestial hidden qualities or influences within his newly developed discipline of “astrological physics”, was to be adept in geometrical optical methods such as in “catoptrics”. The foundation of Dee’s optical approach is shown to be indebted to traditions of both Medieval light metaphysics and Renaissance natural magic.

Key Words: John Dee; Mixed mathematics; Occult virtues; Light metaphysics; Geometrical optics

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