Discussion Notes - Week 10 - Astrology
Concerning astronomical imprecisions: a) are all of the flaws and imprecisions in calculating astrological tables and charts due to the problems of having a geocentric view of the cosmos? b) doesn't all the "tweaking" of astrological formulas make the customer nervous?
Calculating the movement of the planets and the stars is difficult even in this day and age of computers. How much MORE difficult would it have been without the aid of even telescopes? Also, a good diviner doesn't let on that he's "tweaking" anything. He just tells the customer what he sees for them in the stars, regardless of how he got that information.
How does astrology differ from other divination methods? a) it's not superstitious b) it's backed by physical evidence (the movement of the cosmos) c) rolling of dice seems to random and not "backed" by anything solid d) Stars with mathematical calculations don't leave room for such unsatisfactory "randomness" (if done properly)
What are the consequences of thinking about these two views of the cosmos? (die vs astrology-aka specific vs comprehensive divination)
Say your life is governed by the stars. What are the consequences? How does this affect the way you view life, live life, interact with others? a) you have no free will. you can blame everything on the stars. (no one can blame you for anything. then again, you can't blame anyone else.)
Manilius-Stoic philosopher. Advocated blind acceptance of one's fate and believed that complaining about what can't be changed only serves to make the situation worse.
Who is this philosophy comforting to? a) Those who benefit from the status quo. Underlings and down-trodden people; those who desperately wish to change their situation in life are the least satisfied with this explanation of the way things are.
What are alternatives to this stoic acceptance of fate? a) go against it
How does one deal with the ideal that all is pre-determined? a) accept it b) reject it c) change your fate through the help of a higher power (i.e. a god) 1. mystery cults; spells; prayer
What does this mean? Fate goes from being mechanical (physics) and impersonal (planets) to something more personal and malleable (gods who might take pity on you and help you). Depending on which of these worldviews you hold, your life and how you react to it are drastically different.
Why astrology? It is a way to get in contact with the gods (communicate with them) by understanding the "signs" that they send to help us.
How did ancient people get from the pantheon of gods to planetary influences? Once they started noticing the regular movements of the planets, they figured that those really bright lights had to be something important, something divine. Maybe they thought that the planets were the ethereal (Plato's "forms") bodies of the gods. How can a god be in many places at one time? Well, he's a god. He can to ALL things at once if he wants to. What about the other stars? Probably only the biggest or major players in constellations were named and appealed to.
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Astrology has more weight (in the modern mind at least) than other forms of magic b/c it has some "science" to back it
we can definitely predict that this star will be here at this time, etc.
It all works b/c of a "cosmic sympathy" -- if everything was created by one being (including the heavens), and the heavens are so orderly, and everything is connected, then
the pattern of the stars can be used to predict the patterns of life down here
Why it pays to have science backing you up:
it literally pays -- science lent legitimacy, more clients for the astrologer, more money
way of explaining the faults of the system -- yes, science is perfectly predictable and always right, but the human interpretation is subject of human error
Science also separates astrology from magic (making astrology more socially acceptable b/c it's not associated w/ the "marginal types" that do magic?)
it follows the laws of science, not of the gods, is an unfailing system outside of the gods
fate must therefore be predetermined and unalterable
makes religion "unnecessary" b/c everything is predetermined -- why pray to gods that can't help?
takes away individual accountability -- if it happens, it must be predestined and out of my hands
This gives rise to a social problem: Astrological Fatalism -- how solve it?
be careful -- just b/c the stars say it's predetermined doesn't mean the astrologer didn't mess up when reading your chart
Stoic philosophy -- accept what comes to you, make the best of it
complaining just leads to unhappiness
Upper levels of society more likely to accept the Stoic view point -- they like how things are going anyway
lower levels of society more likely to like magic, or to think: someone has to be in charge of the pattern -- let's find out who and ask for help! they can change our destiny!
3-29-01 Magic Notes
-Each magician thought that certain signs mattered more than others. All thought that their predictionsworked the best.
-They tried to make predictions more precise and scientific. Astrology has more mechanical rules for more precise results.
-Consequences: Astrology is comprehensive while others (ex. oracles) ask specific questions.
-Free will: If there is no free will, then man cannot be blamed for his mistakes. Also can't blame others for things they do to you.
Manilius: had a Stoic acceptance philosophy. Complaining only made fate worse. This theory accepted by rich because it maintained the status quo. Popular among poor because poverty wasn't their fault. Also not popular among poor since there was no chanc of upward mobility.
-If one doesn't like the prediction: 1. accept (stoic) 2. Reject.
-Stars don't determine all (Plainus). Stars are signs. They don't act upon us. They prove the universe is rational and ordered. They tell us about the order of the universe, not ourselves.
-Ask a god to change the predictions. Make a sacrifice.
-Go to another astrologer.
-Gods are able to be in more place at once. Unlike humans, their physical presence in't necessary for their spiritual presence. Thus, they can be at several oracles at once giving sveral different predictions.
-Spells to change fate came about the same time the stoic philosophy od acceptance came. Rejection of acceptance.
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Astrology's relationship to Science
Has weight- been proven and observed repeatedly. Makes it valid. Can make observations and preductions that are accurate.
Prediction of stars may be accurate but what about the interpretation? Justified by cosmic sympathy (If everything is rational and has set patterns we should be able to determine its influence and effect as well).
What is achieved by its scientific nature?
-It is more valid
-Gains legitamacy. Authority is better paid
-possible to cover incorrectly read horoscopes (reader is at fault- not cosmos)
-Negative agent against religion? It follows laws of science as opposed to those of gods. Is fate un-alterable? Machine-like? Can gods change fate?
Astrology can give validation to deeds. A person can be born a thief through no fault of his own. Conflicts with social values and beliefs. Fatalism allows for degeneration of moral beliefs. No responsibility. /but how can we get around this?
(Modern parallel: genetically prone- ie: violence gene)
Maybe we can look at it like fate offers you stuff and you can choose what to take and what to let pass. You are dealt specific things but can choose what to seize and what to do with it.
Stoics however think that anything that happens is meant to happen. Accept it and not complain or wish for more. That would only make you more unhappy. Like roles in a play.
But who will accept this sort of philosophy?
Some would say that someone's hand is on the mechanism of astrology. Way around system. Move back to personified idea. Moves away from science and back towards the gods.
People who "have" (perhaps those in upper levels of society) are more likely to accept stoicism. People who are lower and "stuck" in their place are less likely to accept this idea. These are the types of people who try to appeal to some supreme power (examples: Eighth Book of Moses or The Golden Ass)
Many ways out of determinism (example: Rising of Jesus turned all the astrological orbits and mixed up fate)
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"Our past is determined. Our future is free choice", -Harvey Jackins