Malleus Maleficarum

Malleus Maleficarum was, without a doubt, a false piece of sexist literature published under the guise of modern science. In fact, the only portion of it that is really true is the idea that women do have power over men. Instead of admitting that women can possess power, though, the authors attribute the power to supernatural causes. By doing so they take the source of the power away from the women themselves in an attempt to say that even if women have power it is not actually by their own doing. Evidence of this can be seen in the work, even through the much less strict scientific standards of the time. I feel the best example is how women are claimed to be able to remove the penises from males. However the text says that they are not actually removed but merely hidden from sight and touch. Other readings from class have taught us, though, that sight and touch are the basis for reputable science during this time. This use of a double standard is evidence that Malleus Maleficarum contained questionable science even by the standards of its time.