History, Prophecy, and the Stars (eBook)

The Christian Astrology of Pierre d'Ailly, 1350-1420

Laura Ackerman Smoller (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017
246 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-8732-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Although astrology was viewed with suspicion by the medieval church, it became a major area of inquiry for the renowned cardinal and scholar Pierre d'Ailly, whose astrological and apocalyptic writings had a significant influence on Christopher Columbus. D'Ailly's writings on the stars, the focus of this book, clearly illustrate the complex relationships among astrology, science, and Christian thinking in the late Middle Ages. Through an examination of his letters, sermons, and philosophical, astrological, and theological treatises, Laura Ackerman Smoller reveals astrology's appeal as a scientific means to interpret history and prophecy, and not merely as a magical way to forecast and manipulate one's own fate. At the same time, she shows how d'Ailly dealt with delicate problems--such as free will and God's omnipotence--in elevating astrology to a compelling, but not always consistent, "e;natural theology."e; The French cardinal's most intriguing prediction was for the advent of Antichrist in 1789, one that stemmed from his deep concern over the Great Schism (1378-1414). Smoller maintains that the division in the church led d'Ailly to fear the imminence of the apocalypse, and that he eventually turned to astrology to quell his apocalyptic fears, thereby gaining confidence that a church council could heal the Schism. In elucidating the place of astrology in medieval society, this book also affords a personal glimpse of a man facing a profound crisis.Originally published in 1994.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 14.3.2017
• Reihe/Serie: Princeton Legacy Library
• Reihe/Serie: Princeton Legacy Library
• Zusatzinfo: 1 halftone 4 line illus.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie ► Astrologie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Anglistik / Amerikanistik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften
• Schlagworte: Ab urbe condita • Ages of Man • Alfonsine tables • Anno domini • Apocalypticism • Apocalyptic Literature • Aristotelian physics • Ascendant • astrological sign • Astrology • Astronomer • astronomia • Astronomy • Calculation • Calendar reform • Campanus of Novara • Canonization • Cardinal point (optics) • Cardinal sign (astrology) • Carneades • Cathedral chapter • Celestial equator • celestial sphere • Chaplain • Christian Astrology • Christian eschatology • Chronology • Church Fathers • Classical element • Classical planet • culmination • Deferent and epicycle • deity • Divination • divine inspiration • Equatorium • Eschatology • Essays (Montaigne) • Etymologiae • Exaltation (astrology) • Exegesis • exoplanet • fideism • Firmicus (crater) • First Vision • Flagellant • glorification • Glossa ordinaria • Great conjunction • Great Tribulation • Hindu astrology • Horoscope • Inception • In High Places (Harry Turtledove novel) • ITER • Johannes de Sacrobosco • judicial astrology • Julius Africanus • Longevity • MAGIS • meteorology • Mythology • Nicole Oresme • occult science • Omen • Omnipotence • On Religion • On the Heavens • Periodization • Pierre d'Ailly • Plotinus • Pontiff • Positivism • Prediction • Renaissance humanism • Rite • Science • scientific theory • Seven Seals • Somnium (novel) • special revelation • Spirituality • Star chart • Star lore • Summa Theologica • Tertullian • Tetrabiblos • The Dream of Scipio (novel) • Theology • Theorica • The Philosopher • The Various • Tian • time immemorial • treatise • Trepidation (astronomy) • Triple conjunction • True longitude • V. • Western Astrology
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-8732-1 / 1400887321
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-8732-3 / 9781400887323