DOCSLIB.ORG

IDEAS of ORDER: the MEANING and APPEAL of CONTEMPORARY ASTROLOGICAL BELIEF by TRACY A. THORNTON a THESIS Presented to the Folkl

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
IDEAS of ORDER: the MEANING and APPEAL of CONTEMPORARY ASTROLOGICAL BELIEF by TRACY A. THORNTON a THESIS Presented to the Folkl IDEAS OF ORDER: THE MEANING AND APPEAL OF CONTEMPORARY ASTROLOGICAL BELIEF by TRACY A. THORNTON A THESIS Presented to the Folklore Program and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts June 2016 THESIS APPROVAL PAGE Student: Tracy A. Thornton Title: Ideas of Order: The Meaning and Appeal of Contemporary Astrological Belief This thesis has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in the Folklore Program by: Daniel Wojcik Chair John Baumann Member and Scott L. Pratt Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded June 2016 ii © 2016 Tracy A. Thornton iii THESIS ABSTRACT Tracy A. Thornton Master of Arts Folklore Program June 2016 Title: Ideas of Order: The Meaning and Appeal of Contemporary Astrological Belief Astrology is a belief system that has existed for almost 2,500 years. This enduring form of belief has not been effectively studied by scholars and thus we know little about why beliefs commonly stigmatized as superstitions continue to appeal to people today. My research, based on fieldwork and interviews with astrologers in the Portland, Oregon area, demonstrates that the longevity of this belief system may be attributed to its ability to provide meaning and purpose to people. Throughout history, astrology has been adapted to and has evolved within the cultures in which it exists, and its latest adaptation reveals a close connection to the New Age movement. Astrological worldviews, which assume a correlation between predictable celestial cycles and human activity, are rooted in a premise of fatalism, but this analysis reveals a nuanced view of fate that often is empowering rather than limiting. iv CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Tracy A. Thornton GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR Emporia State University, Emporia, KS (Portland, OR program) DEGREES AWARDED: Master of Arts, Folklore, 2016, University of Oregon Master of Library Science, 2002, Emporia State University Bachelor of Arts, English, 1992, University of Oregon AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Belief Systems Folk Religion and Folk Belief History and Practice of Astrology PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Project Coordinator for Northwest Folklife Digital Collection (Internship), Knight Library Digital Scholarship Center & Archives of Northwest Folklore, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 2016 Certificate, Graduate Teaching Initiative, University of Oregon Teaching Effectiveness Program Instructor, WR 121: College Composition I , WR 122: College Composition II, 2015-2016 Guest Lecturer, FLR 235: Folklore & the Supernatural, 2016 Guest Lecturer, FLR 411: Folklore & Religion, 2016 Guest Lecturer, FLR 255: Folklore & U.S. Popular Culture, 2015 Student Archivist, Randall V. Mills Archives of Northwest Folklore, University of Oregon, 2014 v GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS: Alma Johnson Graduate Folklore Award, University of Oregon, 2016 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Oregon Composition Program, 2015-2016 Folklore Summer Research Award, 2015 Cum laude, University of Oregon, 1992 Phi Beta Kappa, 1992 Presidential Scholarship, University of Oregon, 1988-1992 vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Daniel Wojcik for his wise, perceptive, and practical counsel as well as his encouragement during my time in the Folklore Program and through the process of writing this thesis; his rigorous attention to detail and thoughtful questions improved my work immeasurably. Dr. John Baumann provided helpful and supportive feedback as a member of my thesis committee and allowed me to explore interesting astrological topics in his classes. I am grateful to the UO Folklore Program for its openness towards such a wide range of folkloric expressions and for creating a welcoming and supportive environment, and also for financial support during my graduate study. I had excellent professors both within and outside of the Folklore Program who allowed me to explore the topic of astrology in ways that may not be overtly present this project, but are there in spirit and nonetheless informed my work: Dr. Dianne Dugaw, Dr. Lisa Gilman, and Dr. Sarah Wald. This work would be incomplete without all the astrologers who generously agreed to share their stories with me and provided insightful and beautifully articulated examples of what astrology means to real people: Lauren Balin, Mark Dodich, Andrea Gehrz, Melanie Gurley, Gary Lorentzen, Jaysen Paulson, Debora Tramposh, Rhea Wolf, Linda, and C.M. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with them. Finally, I would like to thank those individuals behind the scenes who made this work possible in mundane but essential ways: my brother Brad and sister-in-law Tiffany, for generously providing me a place to rest my teeming brain during my weekly stays in Eugene; my brother Mark and sister-in-law Meryl, for encouragement and moral support along the way; and Ernie Conway, for everything. vii To my late mother, Millie, for encouraging my love of language and learning, and to my father, Larry, for fostering my love of folklore before I knew what it was. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 Notes .............................................................................................................. 7 II. SUN SIGNS, SURVIVALS, AND SUPERSTITIONS: REPRESENTATIONS OF ASTROLOGY ...................................................................................................... 8 Astrology in Everyday Life: Folk Religion, Belief Studies, and the Vernacular ...................................................................................................... 14 Lived Religion, Seekership, and the New Age Movement ............................ 19 Fate, Fatalism, and Astrology ........................................................................ 27 Astrology in Historical Context ..................................................................... 28 Notes .............................................................................................................. 31 III. A BRIEF HISTORY OF WESTERN ASTROLOGY ........................................ 33 Notes .............................................................................................................. 40 IV. CONTEMPORARY ASTROLOGY AND THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT .... 41 Individualism and Holism .............................................................................. 44 Meaning and Personal Growth....................................................................... 47 Esotericism ..................................................................................................... 50 Notes .............................................................................................................. 52 V. FREEDOM IN LIMITATION: ASTROLOGY, FATE, AND FREE WILL ...... 53 Greek Concepts of Fate .................................................................................. 55 Teleology ....................................................................................................... 60 Astrological Fate ............................................................................................ 62 ix Chapter Page Negotiable Fate .............................................................................................. 71 Notes .............................................................................................................. 77 VI. CONTEMPORARY ASTROLOGY: VARIATIONS ON A THEME .............. 79 Psychological Astrology ................................................................................ 80 Evolutionary Astrology .................................................................................. 81 Traditional Astrology ..................................................................................... 86 Notes .............................................................................................................. 92 VII. ASTROLOGY IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME: A CASE STUDY ................... 93 Astrology in Shakespeare’s Era ..................................................................... 94 Shakespeare’s Astrological Imagination ........................................................ 102 Astrology as a Poetic Language ..................................................................... 111 Notes .............................................................................................................. 113 VIII. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ 114 Notes .............................................................................................................. 129 APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF ASTROLOGICAL TERMS ................................... 130 REFERENCES CITED .............................................................................................. 134 x LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Astrology’s Relationship to the New Age Movement ........................................ 79 xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Astrology has ancient roots: it is as old as Western civilization itself. How is it that this archaic belief system has survived into the twenty-first century? Why does it persist—thrive, even—despite centuries of ridicule and debunking efforts by skeptics and rationalists? To answer these questions,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Holistic Hippocrates: 'Treating the Patient, Not Just the Disease'
    King, Helen. "The Holistic Hippocrates: ‘Treating the Patient, Not Just the Disease’." Hippocrates Now: The ‘Father of Medicine’ in the Internet Age. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2020. 133–154. Bloomsbury Collections. Web. 24 Sep. 2021. <http:// dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350005921.ch-007>. Downloaded from Bloomsbury Collections, www.bloomsburycollections.com, 24 September 2021, 04:27 UTC. Copyright © Helen King 2020. You may share this work for non-commercial purposes only, provided you give attribution to the copyright holder and the publisher, and provide a link to the Creative Commons licence. 7 Th e Holistic Hippocrates: ‘Treating the Patient, N o t J u s t t h e D i s e a s e ’ I n t h i s fi nal chapter I want to look at the Hippocrates of today not through specifi c uses in news stories or in quotes, but through the invocation of his name in holistic (or, as we shall see, ‘wholistic’) medicine. Holism today presents itself as a return to a superior past, and brings Hippocrates in as part of this strategy. Th e model of the history of medicine implicit – or sometimes explicit – in holistic users of Hippocrates is one in which there was a golden age until ‘the turn away from holism in medicine allowed diseases to be located in specifi c organs, tissues or cells’.1 While there is something in this where ancient medicine is concerned, with its basis in fl uids rather than organs, this is of course also a tried and tested strategy for convincing an audience of the value of a ‘new’ thing: you claim it is ‘old’, or ancient, or just traditional.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sinicization of Indo-Iranian Astrology in Medieval China
    SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS Number 282 September, 2018 The Sinicization of Indo-Iranian Astrology in Medieval China by Jeffrey Kotyk Victor H. Mair, Editor Sino-Platonic Papers Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305 USA [email protected] www.sino-platonic.org SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS FOUNDED 1986 Editor-in-Chief VICTOR H. MAIR Associate Editors PAULA ROBERTS MARK SWOFFORD ISSN 2157-9679 (print) 2157-9687 (online) SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS is an occasional series dedicated to making available to specialists and the interested public the results of research that, because of its unconventional or controversial nature, might otherwise go unpublished. The editor-in-chief actively encourages younger, not yet well established scholars and independent authors to submit manuscripts for consideration. Contributions in any of the major scholarly languages of the world, including romanized modern standard Mandarin and Japanese, are acceptable. In special circumstances, papers written in one of the Sinitic topolects (fangyan) may be considered for publication. Although the chief focus of Sino-Platonic Papers is on the intercultural relations of China with other peoples, challenging and creative studies on a wide variety of philological subjects will be entertained. This series is not the place for safe, sober, and stodgy presentations. Sino-Platonic Papers prefers lively work that, while taking reasonable risks to advance the field, capitalizes on brilliant new insights into the development of civilization. Submissions are regularly sent out for peer review, and extensive editorial suggestions for revision may be offered. Sino-Platonic Papers emphasizes substance over form. We do, however, strongly recommend that prospective authors consult our style guidelines at www.sino-platonic.org/stylesheet.doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrological Plutos by David Faulks (Dаvіdј Faulks@Yahоο.Ca) March 3, 2016
    Astrological Plutos by David Faulks (dаvіdј_faulks@yahоο.ca) March 3, 2016 !" #%&$BC+' () *,- 1. Introduction The purpose of this proposal is to request the addition to Unicode of 4 symbols used by some astrologers for the dwarf planet Pluto. Used in charts, listing, tables, and to a lesser extent, running text, these symbols are used in astrology alongside other planetary symbols already encoded like ♀, ♃, or ⛢ (which despite it's name, is widely used is astrology, just not in English). Separate codepoints are proposed (rather than variation selectors) in order to match the existing distinction between U+ 2645 ♅ URANUS and U+ 26E2 ⛢ ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOL FOR URANUS. It is proposed that these symbols be encoded in the Miscellaneous Symbols and Arrows block. after a gap (left for some additional astrological characters). The term ‘ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO’ is proposed because these symbols are used strictly for astrology, (unlike ♇, which is used by astronomers and astrologers), and because something like ASTROLOGICAL SYMBOL FOR PLUTO TYPE ONE is a bit too long. If the UTC disagrees with this, I will not dispute changing the names. The symbols with proposed codepoints and names are below: ! U+2BD4 ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO TYPE ONE # U+2BD5 ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO TYPE TWO ( U+2BD6 ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO TYPE THREE - U+2BD7 ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO TYPE FOUR The proposed ASTROLOGICAL PLUTO TYPE FOUR has some similarities to Crescent Moon characters in the block Miscellaneous Symbols and Pictographs, but this type of Pluto has variant glyphs (,*), is always ‘white’, and the symbol might be based on orbits, rather than anything related to the moon.1 1. Astrologers do not seem to be interested in answering email, or in the history of symbols.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategies of Defending Astrology: a Continuing Tradition
    Strategies of Defending Astrology: A Continuing Tradition by Teri Gee A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology University of Toronto © Copyright by Teri Gee (2012) Strategies of Defending Astrology: A Continuing Tradition Teri Gee Doctorate of Philosophy Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology University of Toronto 2012 Abstract Astrology is a science which has had an uncertain status throughout its history, from its beginnings in Greco-Roman Antiquity to the medieval Islamic world and Christian Europe which led to frequent debates about its validity and what kind of a place it should have, if any, in various cultures. Written in the second century A.D., Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos is not the earliest surviving text on astrology. However, the complex defense given in the Tetrabiblos will be treated as an important starting point because it changed the way astrology would be justified in Christian and Muslim works and the influence Ptolemy’s presentation had on later works represents a continuation of the method introduced in the Tetrabiblos. Abû Ma‘shar’s Kitâb al- Madkhal al-kabîr ilâ ‘ilm ahk. âm al-nujûm, written in the ninth century, was the most thorough surviving defense from the Islamic world. Roger Bacon’s Opus maius, although not focused solely on advocating astrology, nevertheless, does contain a significant defense which has definite links to the works of both Abû Ma‘shar and Ptolemy. As such, he demonstrates another stage in the development of astrology.
    [Show full text]
  • Index of the Personal Sessions, Books 1 Through 7, by Jane Roberts
    Index of The Personal Sessions, Books 1 Through 7, by Jane Roberts Home Intro Gems Events Shop Library Toolbox Cool Sites Contact Us Search Index of The Personal Sessions, Books 1 Through 7 by Jane Roberts and Robert Butts by Susan R. Williams Tip: use your browser’s find function (Ctrl+F) to keyword search this page. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | – A – AA. See table-tipping abilities creative, reasons for impeding, PS3:229 Frameworks 1 and 2's involvement with, PS4:183–84, PS4:269–70 innate drive to use one's, PS5:172 psychic outlets for, PS6:182–84 public reception of, PS5:195–97 abundance, PS1:125–26, PS1:133 accident, auto, interpreted by Seth, PS4:302–6 http://www.newworldview.com/library/Williams_Susan_Personal_Sessions_Index.html (1 of 40) [10/14/2010 3:18:45 PM] Index of The Personal Sessions, Books 1 Through 7, by Jane Roberts Adams, Jim, PS5:262, PS6:151–52, PS6:161–62 adrenaline, changes in the effect of, in the human body, PS3:7 Adventures in Consciousness: An Introduction to Aspect Psychology (Roberts), PS2:185, PS2:203, PS2:233–39, PS2:247, PS2:250–52, PS2:281 affirmation of self. See self-approval After Man (Dixon), PS7:250–52 The Afterdeath Journal of an American Philosopher: The World View of William James, PS1:ii airplanes, ancient, PS4:100–101 Albert, Eddie, PS4:204 Alexander, Brian, PS5:199 Alexander, Wade, PS5:199, PS7:170 Alexander, William, PS6:86, PS6:211 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll), PS5:222–23 aliens.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrology Conception Time As Per Indian Astrology ABSTRACT
    Research Paper Volume : 3 | Issue : 4 | AprilAstrology 2014 • ISSN No 2277 - 8179 KEYWORDS : Conception, Aarthavam, Conception Time as Per Indian Astrology Astrology, Upachayastana, Horasara, Adhana Lagna,Saravali N.Mohanan Research Scholar Astrology, Postal Address, Dept. Sanskrit & Astrovedic Studies, PRIST University, Thanjavur 613403. ABSTRACT The role of knowledge of conception time of human beings is a mysterious one. In human life birth of a child occupies a very prominent place. The parents find their own images through their own children and see the progression through their future. The mother has pass through the ten months of grooming of the infants, with all it takes, with a mother can better understand and the results are still uncertain. Many of them are born still many of them are born with incapability and get eradicated from their very start of journey. Everything has a very profound impact on the parents and their future. Hence the study of conception is much more important to explain which will be the cause of birth of a child. Introduction:- The role of knowledge of conception time the Jupiter, she will meet her husband for sexual union and that of human beings is a mysterious one. In human life birth of a union will be fruitful. The aspect of Jupiter is more powerful than Venus. own images through their own children and see the progres- (Saravali chapter 8 verse 4) sionchild throughoccupies their a very future. prominent The mother place. Thehas parentspass through find their the ten months of grooming of the infants, with all it takes, with a The veteran practicing Astrologers opined that upachaya and mother can better understand and the results are still uncer- anupachayasthana are counted from the Ascendant, but not tain.
    [Show full text]
  • Geminos and Babylonian Astronomy
    Geminos and Babylonian astronomy J. M. Steele Introduction Geminos’ Introduction to the Phenomena is one of several introductions to astronomy written by Greek and Latin authors during the last couple of centuries bc and the first few centuries ad.1 Geminos’ work is unusual, however, in including some fairly detailed—and accurate—technical information about Babylonian astronomy, some of which is explicitly attributed to the “Chal- deans.” Indeed, before the rediscovery of cuneiform sources in the nineteenth century, Gem- inos provided the most detailed information on Babylonian astronomy available, aside from the reports of several eclipse and planetary observations quoted by Ptolemy in the Almagest. Early-modern histories of astronomy, those that did not simply quote fantastical accounts of pre-Greek astronomy based upon the Bible and Josephus, relied heavily upon Geminos for their discussion of Babylonian (or “Chaldean”) astronomy.2 What can be learnt of Babylonian astron- omy from Geminos is, of course, extremely limited and restricted to those topics which have a place in an introduction to astronomy as this discipline was understood in the Greek world. Thus, aspects of Babylonian astronomy which relate to the celestial sphere (e.g. the zodiac and the ris- ing times of the ecliptic), the luni-solar calendar (e.g. intercalation and the 19-year (“Metonic”) cycle), and lunar motion, are included, but Geminos tells us nothing about Babylonian planetary theory (the planets are only touched upon briefly by Geminos), predictive astronomy that uses planetary and lunar periods, observational astronomy, or the problem of lunar visibility, which formed major parts of Babylonian astronomical practice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Age of Aquarius by Don Cerow, NCGR IV
    The Age of Aquarius by Don Cerow, NCGR IV Welcome to the Age of Aquarius.* We are a generation that is perched on the dawn of a new epoch, a new vibration. The world is changing. Everything from politics to industry to our mortgages turns on a new pivot, and we are lucky enough to be able to witness the unfolding. There are those who feel as though the Age has already begun. Others believe that the Age is not yet here, and the called for changes have not yet fully unfolded. Both are correct. As we look around us, electricity fills the air. Lights, power, technology, refrigeration, computers, smart phones, microchips, and science are all manifestations of the New Age at work, of a brave new world already (up and running). But the use of fossil fuels, oil, coal, and natural gas, the inability of Congress to get things done due to party allegiances, the growing intensity of storms and the general weather patterns, are all indications Alpha Piscium and Omega Piscium are the stars thought by Don Cerow that the Age of Pisces is not yet over. to observationally “benchmark” the Age of Pisces. We are building to a crescendo with the warming of the planet being the Revelation 22:13 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” When Revelation was written in the first century AD, the substantial catalyst that inaugurates “New Age” (Pisces) stretched out before them, describing what the future would hold. these changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Implicit Theories of Friendships: Examining the Roles of Growth and Destiny Beliefs in Children's Friendships a DISSERTATION
    Implicit Theories of Friendships: Examining the Roles of Growth and Destiny Beliefs in Children’s Friendships A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY Sara Gayle Kempner IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY W. Andrew Collins, Ph.D., Nicki R. Crick, Ph.D. August 2008 © Sara Gayle Kempner 2008 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisors, Andy Collins and Nicki Crick. Andy, thank you for being a mentor and advisor to me and supporting the development of my interests. Your continuing dedication to my education means so much to me. Nicki, you welcomed me into your lab and allowed me to broaden my research experiences. I am grateful for your nurturance and support. I would like to thank my committee members Richard Weinberg and Jeffry Simpson. Rich, you have been a great supporter of all my interests in graduate school. Jeff, it was in your close relationships seminar where the ideas for this project first emerged. Thank you for being a part of this project. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the schools, teachers, and children who participated in this study and shared their thoughts with me. Especially one child who asked me how I was going to use their answers to get a Ph.D. After explaining that I would put their answers into a computer, analyze it, and write a paper the child remarked, “Well that sounds pretty easy!” I would like to thank all the undergraduates who helped collect and enter data.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Philosophy.Pdf
    I N T R O D U C T I O N What Is Philosophy? CHAPTER 1 The Task of Philosophy CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Reflection—thinking things over—. [is] the beginning of philosophy.1 In this chapter we will address the following questions: N What Does “Philosophy” Mean? N Why Do We Need Philosophy? N What Are the Traditional Branches of Philosophy? N Is There a Basic Method of Philo- sophical Thinking? N How May Philosophy Be Used? N Is Philosophy of Education Useful? N What Is Happening in Philosophy Today? The Meanings Each of us has a philos- “having” and “doing”—cannot be treated en- ophy, even though we tirely independent of each other, for if we did of Philosophy may not be aware of not have a philosophy in the formal, personal it. We all have some sense, then we could not do a philosophy in the ideas concerning physical objects, our fellow critical, reflective sense. persons, the meaning of life, death, God, right Having a philosophy, however, is not suffi- and wrong, beauty and ugliness, and the like. Of cient for doing philosophy. A genuine philo- course, these ideas are acquired in a variety sophical attitude is searching and critical; it is of ways, and they may be vague and confused. open-minded and tolerant—willing to look at all We are continuously engaged, especially during sides of an issue without prejudice. To philoso- the early years of our lives, in acquiring views phize is not merely to read and know philoso- and attitudes from our family, from friends, and phy; there are skills of argumentation to be mas- from various other individuals and groups.
    [Show full text]
  • The Science of Astrology: Schreibkalender, Natural Philosophy, and Everyday Life in the Seventeenth-Century German Lands
    The Science of Astrology: Schreibkalender, Natural Philosophy, and Everyday Life in the Seventeenth-Century German Lands A dissertation submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History of the College of Arts and Sciences by Kelly Marie Smith M.A. University of Cincinnati, December 2003 B.S. Eastern Michigan University, December 2000 Committee Chair: Sigrun Haude, Ph.D. Abstract This dissertation explores the use of Schreibkalender, or writing-calendars, and their accompanying prognostica astrologica to evaluate how ideas about seventeenth-century natural philosophy – particularly the relationship between astronomy and astrology – changed throughout the period. These calendars contain a wealth of information that demonstrates the thirst early modern readers had for knowledge of the world around them. Because Schreibkalender and prognostica were written annually for the general populace and incorporated contemporary ideas regarding natural philosophy, they provide a means to assess the roles of both astronomical and astrological ideas during this period and how these changes were conveyed to the average person. Not only did authors present practical information related to the natural world, but they also explained basic philosophical principles and new discoveries to their audience. This research examines how changing ideas about the role of natural philosophy and its direct influence on everyday life developed over the course of the seventeenth century. An examination of the Schreibkalender and prognostica reveals a shift in emphasis throughout the period. Early calendars (approximately 1600-30) presented direct astronomical and astrological information related to the daily life of the average person, whereas those from the middle of the century (~1630-70) added helpful details explaining astronomical and astrological concepts.
    [Show full text]
  • Fate and Death Through a Daimonic Lens
    FATE AND DEATH THROUGH A DAIMONIC LENS FATE AND DEATH THROUGH A DAIMONIC LENS By JASON SOLOMON BINDER, B.A.Sc., B.A. Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University © Copyright by Jason Solomon Binder, September 2014 MA Thesis – J. Binder; McMaster University – Classics. McMaster University MASTER OF ARTS (2014) Hamilton, Ontario (Classics) TITLE: Fate and Death through a Daimonic Lens AUTHOR: Jason Solomon Binder, B.A.Sc., B.A. (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Sean Corner NUMBER OF PAGES: vi, 101 ii MA Thesis – J. Binder; McMaster University – Classics. Abstract This thesis is concerned with the ancient Greek conceptualization of fate and death, as explored through the figure of the daimon in literature from Homer and Hesiod to Plato and Euripides. Filling a gap in scholarship, I elucidate the spectrum of meaning inherent in the word daimon, and how it shifts over time. From the Archaic to the Classical period the word daimon is found as a synonym for theos, “god”, as a vocative address, or in reference to “fate” and the generalized “will of heaven.” At the same time, a particular group of divine personifications, including Thanatos, Moira, Ker, and Erinys are counted as daimones. We also find the term used to designate unnamed but individuated lesser divinities, guardian spirits, and demonic possessors, and even as the divine aspect of the self. In the early Archaic poets these latter categories are only nascent. The individuated daimon becomes the focus of the lyric poets and pre-Socratic philosophers; in the later pre-Socratics the daimon begins to be internalized, moving from possessive spirit to psychic force.
    [Show full text]