Astrology as the «Queen of the Sciences» in Michael Scot’s Liber introductorius
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Abstract
Throughout the history of Western thought, astrology has been viewed as either a dangerous or false science, or as a true and superior science or art, that can provide practitioners with access to divine truth. However, a middle ground appears unattainable. The article presents two opposing perspectives on astrology: Theodor W. Adorno’s contemporary view, which considers astrology as an instrument of power in consumer society, and Michael Scot’s scientific foundation of astrology developed during the Middle Ages in light of Arabic-Latin translations. The aim of the article is to show how Scotus’ epistemology establishes «the science of the stars» as the supreme science and places the human being and the study of the soul at the centre of the cosmos in the 4th distinction of the Liber introductorius, known as De anima.
Keywords
- Adorno
- Michael Scot
- Astrology
- ‘
- ilm al-nujū
- m
- Liber introductorius
- De anima
- Gundissalinus
- al-Fā
- rā
- bī
- Avicenna
