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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2011 22:52:18 GMT
I recently watched the debate between Craig and Hitchens. At one point, Hitchens said Aquinas believed in astrology. Is there any factual basis to this assertion?
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Post by humphreyclarke on Jan 27, 2011 0:34:20 GMT
Doesn't look like it www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.SS_Q95_A5.htmlHe cites Augustine at the end: Hence Augustine says (Gen. ad lit. ii, 17): "When astrologers tell the truth, it must be allowed that this is due to an instinct that, unknown to man, lies hidden in his mind. And since this happens through the action of unclean and lying spirits who desire to deceive man for they are permitted to know certain things about temporal affairs." Wherefore he concludes: "Thus a good Christian should beware of astrologers, and of all impious diviners, especially of those who tell the truth, lest his soul become the dupe of the demons and by making a compact of partnership with them enmesh itself in their fellowship."Doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement |
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Post by peterdamian on Jan 27, 2011 8:16:37 GMT
I recently watched the debate between Craig and Hitchens. At one point, Hitchens said Aquinas believed in astrology. Is there any factual basis to this assertion? None at all. I have something about that here, ocham.blogspot.com/search?q=astrology , which a link to an article by Charles Burnett. As I noted there, 'astrology' or 'astrologia' then often meant what we now call 'astronomy', which is probably why Hitchens is confused. For Aquinas' usage, follow the links here www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=astrologia+site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.logicmuseum.com&meta=It's pretty clear he is using it as a term for a precise, mathematical science. The medievals also distinguished the 'superstitious' use of the term, which they confusingly called 'astronomy'. And Aquinas is pretty clear about superstition: Augustine says (De Decem Chord. Serm. ix): "Thou strikest the first chord in the worship of one God, and the beast of superstition hath fallen." Now the worship of one God belongs to religion. Therefore superstition is contrary to religion. See also Summa II.2 q 95 a 5. www.newadvent.org/summa/3095.htm#article5 . The Latin is here www.corpusthomisticum.org/sth3092.html#43078 - as noted before, you need to beware of the different way in which Latin and English are used. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2011 8:21:16 GMT
I know it's rubbish, but I've wanted to have an official stamp on it. Thank you.
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Post by James Hannam on Jan 27, 2011 10:43:17 GMT
Hi Matko,
Aquinas rejects judicial astrology, but he accepts that the stars might influence natural events on earth like the weather. Bearing in the mind that stars includes the moon and sun, this is obviously true.
The relevant passage is quoted in the God's Philosophers chapter on astrology but I don't have it to hand right now.
J
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Post by himself on Feb 6, 2011 2:01:26 GMT
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Post by James Hannam on Feb 6, 2011 9:35:35 GMT
What a great blog! Thanks for the link. J |
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Post by wraggy on Feb 21, 2011 9:49:27 GMT
What a great blog! Thanks for the link. J I have a bit of a Man Crush on Anthony Christie. But his blog has raised the question about Galileo and the practice of Astrology. One person has responded that the scholar (Nick Kollerstrom), that Thony has relied on is a Holocaust Denier and therefore he may not be trust worthy as a source. Does anyone have any information on this one? see the article " History, morals, ethics, reliability and authority" Feb 18, 2011 thonyc.wordpress.com/I know it is not about Aquinas but I did not think that it was worth starting a new thread. |
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