In a discriminating revival Agrippa pursued the 'natural' magic of Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola, while relating it to Johann Reuchlin's synthesis of magic and religion. Agrippa broadens the ideas he found in his sources to forge a much more comprehensive conception of the occult. The critical edition of De occulta philosophia clarifies a number of controversies about the interpretation of this magical work. More generally, this Renaissance magus proves to be driven by a deep scholarly curiosity, which seeks to come to grips with the intellectual and religious problems of his time.