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'''[[Astrology]] and [[astronomy]]''' were deeply intertwined in the past, and very much one and the same throughout the overwhelming bulk of [[human history]]. The two completely separate disciplines as we define them today cannot, in fact, be distinguished, until only the past few hundred years (they split up completely about [[1750]]-[[1800]]). Because so many people mistakenly think that astrology is some kind of [[science]], it often happens that the two are even today still confused with one another.
'''[[Astrology]] and [[astronomy]]''' were deeply intertwined in the past, and very much one and the same throughout the overwhelming bulk of [[human history]]. The two completely separate disciplines as we define them today cannot, in fact, be distinguished, until only the past few hundred years (they split up completely about [[1750]]-[[1800]]).


== Historical divergence ==
== Historical divergence ==


The primary goal of astronomy is to understand the [[physics]] of the [[universe]]. Astrologers use astronomical calculations for the [[ephemeris|positions of celestial bodies]] along the [[ecliptic]] and attempt to correlate celestial events ([[astrological aspects]], [[astrological sign|sign positions]]) with earthly events and human affairs. From ancient times until the 17th century, astrologers constantly desired more accurate astronomical tables, and for this reason, they instigated and even funded many important developments in astronomy. The role of astrology as an important motivation for astronomical research diminished as the works of [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]] and others solved the problems in celestial mechanics that were of interest to astrologers, and as belief in astrological influences or correlations became extinct among astronomers. The needs of modern [[navigation]] and [[physics]] became more important motivators for astronomical research.
The primary goal of astronomy is to understand the [[physics]] of the [[universe]]. Astrologers use astronomical calculations for the [[ephemeris|positions of celestial bodies]] along the [[ecliptic]] to correlate celestial events ([[astrological aspects]], [[astrological sign|sign positions]]) with earthly events and human affairs. From ancient times until the 17th century, astrologers desired more accurate astronomical tables, and for this reason, they instigated and even funded many important developments in astronomy. The role of astrology as an important motivation for astronomical research diminished as the works of [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]] and others solved the problems in celestial mechanics that were of interest to astrologers, and as belief in astrological influences or correlations became extinct among astronomers. The needs of modern [[navigation]] and [[physics]] became more important motivators for astronomical research.


Astrology and astronomy began to take divergent paths during the rise of the [[rational]] and the [[scientific method]] in the [[Western World]]. The science of astronomy as we know it today ([[mathematical]], [[mechanical]], [[empirical]]) is of relatively recent origin. This discipline became separated from and generally antagonistic towards astrology only beginning around the time of the "Great Astronomers" -- [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]], [[Kepler]], [[Copernicus]], [[Tycho Brahe|Brahe]], etc. (though remember that they were still all astrologers ''as well as'' astronomers). This period is defined as the beginning of the [[scientific revolution]], leading on into [[The Age of Enlightenment]], sometimes referred to as [[The Age of Reason]] -- as stated, the two fields diverged ''completely'' in the West between approximately 1750-1800.
Astrology and astronomy began to take divergent paths during the rise of the [[rational]] and the [[scientific method]] in the [[Western World]]. The science of astronomy as we know it today ([[mathematical]], [[mechanical]], [[empirical]]) is of relatively recent origin. This discipline became separated from and generally antagonistic towards astrology only beginning around the time of the "Great Astronomers" -- [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]], [[Kepler]], [[Copernicus]], [[Tycho Brahe|Brahe]], etc. (though remember that they were still all astrologers ''as well as'' astronomers). This period is defined as the beginning of the [[scientific revolution]], leading on into [[The Age of Enlightenment]], sometimes referred to as [[The Age of Reason]] -- as stated, the two fields diverged ''completely'' in the West between approximately 1750-1800.


It is a commonly held belief among astrologers that [[Isaac Newton]] had an interest in astrology. However, Newton's writings fail to mention the subject and the handful of books in his possession that contained references to astrology were primarily concerned with other subjects such as the writings of Hermes Trismegistus (and mentioned astrology only in passing.) In an interview with [[John Conduitt]], Newton said that as a young student, he had read a book on astrology, and was "soon convinced of the vanity & emptiness of the pretended science of Judicial astrology" (D.T. Whiteside, M.A. Hoskin & A. Prag (eds.), The Mathematical Papers of Isaac Newton (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1967), vol. 1, pp. 15-19).
It is a commonly held belief some scholar that [[Isaac Newton]] had a serious interest in astrology. However, Among his many interests, Newton was also concerned subjects such as the writings of [[Hermes Trismegistus]], which contains materials on astrology and alchemy. Newton was known to be a very secretive person, and it has been discovered that his interest in [[alchemy]] was far from a hobby, but a passion. As such, astrology had been Newton's special study since alchemy cannot be studied without astrology. Moreover, Newton's belief in astrology and alchemy were supported by his strong theological views, among them that angels of God held the [[cosmos]] together and that God regulated all things through the motions of the planetary and stellar bodies.


Astrology and astronomy were practiced as the same science for thousands of years with the funding from astrologer's clients - prime among them European royalty, and the wealthy who helped astrologers support major [[astronomical]] research. The monies were used to continue the centuries-old work of creating more accurate [[ephemeris|ephemerides]] for use in tracking the motions of the planets and stars. As Europe approached what is called the [[Age of Reason]], many conventional scientists of the 18th century took more astronomical funding to build expensive observatories and instruments to observe the physical elements of the heavens.
Perhaps the words ''astrolomer/astrolomy'' or ''astronoger/astronogy'' would be sufficient to describe the afforementioned dual roles of just about every person seriously studying (astronomy) '''and''' interpreting (astrology) the sky from antiquity until about 1750-1800. In [[Medieval Europe]] the word ''Astronomia'' was often used to encompass both disciplines as this included the study of astronomy and astrology jointly and without a real distinction; this was one of the original [[Seven Liberal Arts]].


⚫
All ancient astrologers up until about 1750-1800 were valued as advisors for the powerful and [[wealth|wealthy]] of the nations of Europe. Many kings and queens employed judicial astrologers to aid them in the running of their kingdom, and this is where most of the money that was used to fund much need astronomical research came from.
Astrology and astronomy stayed together for a very long time - the funding from astrology supported major [[astronomical]] research, which was in turn used to make more and more accurate [[ephemeris|ephemerides]] for use in astrology. As the funding and technology progressively increased, this inexorably lead to greater and greater discoveries that eventually drove the two apart.


⚫
University medical students were taught astrology for use during their practice as physicians; they needed to know how to observe (astronomically) in order to be able to interpret (astrologically) and treat the illness. (See [[Medical astrology]].)
⚫
Most of the very early, ancient astronomers/astrologers up until about 1750-1800 were simultaneously employed as [[astrologers]] for the powerful and the [[wealth|wealthy]]; many Kings and Queens employed court astrologers to aid them in the running of their kingdom, and this is where most of the money that was used to fund much need astronomical research came from.

⚫
University medical students were taught astronomy/astrology for use during their practice as physicians; they needed to know how to observe (astronomically) in order to be able to interpret (astrologically) and treat the illness. (See [[Medical astrology]].)


More often than not it was only because of the prospect of getting better and more accurate astrological predictions that the rich ([[Royalty]]) were willing to invest in the very expensive projects of creating [[Observatory|observatories]] and funding constant astronomical observations (see [[Tycho Brahe]]), which were very time consuming and just didn't seem quite as interesting as the '[[mystical]]' art of astrology.
More often than not it was only because of the prospect of getting better and more accurate astrological predictions that the rich ([[Royalty]]) were willing to invest in the very expensive projects of creating [[Observatory|observatories]] and funding constant astronomical observations (see [[Tycho Brahe]]), which were very time consuming and just didn't seem quite as interesting as the '[[mystical]]' art of astrology.
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* [[History of astrology]]
* [[History of astrology]]
* [[History of astronomy]]
* [[History of astronomy]]
*[[Judicial astrology]]
*[[Mundane astrology]]
* [[Horoscope]]
* [[Horoscope]]
* [[Natal chart]]
* [[Natal chart]]
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[[Category:Astrology| ]]
[[Category:Astrology| ]]
[[Category:Astronomy| ]]
[[Category:Astronomy| ]]


== Sources ==
*''The Modern Textbook of Astrology'', Margaret Hone (1951)
*''The Secret Zodiac, by Fred Gettings'' (1987)
*''The Round Art, by A.T. Mann'' (1979/1991)
* ''History of Mathematics'', by Carl B. Boyer (1968)

Revision as of 16:49, 12 January 2006

Astrology and astronomy were deeply intertwined in the past, and very much one and the same throughout the overwhelming bulk of human history. The two completely separate disciplines as we define them today cannot, in fact, be distinguished, until only the past few hundred years (they split up completely about 1750-1800).

Historical divergence

The primary goal of astronomy is to understand the physics of the universe. Astrologers use astronomical calculations for the positions of celestial bodies along the ecliptic to correlate celestial events (astrological aspects, sign positions) with earthly events and human affairs. From ancient times until the 17th century, astrologers desired more accurate astronomical tables, and for this reason, they instigated and even funded many important developments in astronomy. The role of astrology as an important motivation for astronomical research diminished as the works of Galileo and others solved the problems in celestial mechanics that were of interest to astrologers, and as belief in astrological influences or correlations became extinct among astronomers. The needs of modern navigation and physics became more important motivators for astronomical research.

Astrology and astronomy began to take divergent paths during the rise of the rational and the scientific method in the Western World. The science of astronomy as we know it today (mathematical, mechanical, empirical) is of relatively recent origin. This discipline became separated from and generally antagonistic towards astrology only beginning around the time of the "Great Astronomers" -- Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus, Brahe, etc. (though remember that they were still all astrologers as well as astronomers). This period is defined as the beginning of the scientific revolution, leading on into The Age of Enlightenment, sometimes referred to as The Age of Reason -- as stated, the two fields diverged completely in the West between approximately 1750-1800.

It is a commonly held belief some scholar that Isaac Newton had a serious interest in astrology. However, Among his many interests, Newton was also concerned subjects such as the writings of Hermes Trismegistus, which contains materials on astrology and alchemy. Newton was known to be a very secretive person, and it has been discovered that his interest in alchemy was far from a hobby, but a passion. As such, astrology had been Newton's special study since alchemy cannot be studied without astrology. Moreover, Newton's belief in astrology and alchemy were supported by his strong theological views, among them that angels of God held the cosmos together and that God regulated all things through the motions of the planetary and stellar bodies.

Astrology and astronomy were practiced as the same science for thousands of years with the funding from astrologer's clients - prime among them European royalty, and the wealthy who helped astrologers support major astronomical research. The monies were used to continue the centuries-old work of creating more accurate ephemerides for use in tracking the motions of the planets and stars. As Europe approached what is called the Age of Reason, many conventional scientists of the 18th century took more astronomical funding to build expensive observatories and instruments to observe the physical elements of the heavens.

All ancient astrologers up until about 1750-1800 were valued as advisors for the powerful and wealthy of the nations of Europe. Many kings and queens employed judicial astrologers to aid them in the running of their kingdom, and this is where most of the money that was used to fund much need astronomical research came from.

University medical students were taught astrology for use during their practice as physicians; they needed to know how to observe (astronomically) in order to be able to interpret (astrologically) and treat the illness. (See Medical astrology.)

More often than not it was only because of the prospect of getting better and more accurate astrological predictions that the rich (Royalty) were willing to invest in the very expensive projects of creating observatories and funding constant astronomical observations (see Tycho Brahe), which were very time consuming and just didn't seem quite as interesting as the 'mystical' art of astrology.

See also


Sources

  • The Modern Textbook of Astrology, Margaret Hone (1951)
  • The Secret Zodiac, by Fred Gettings (1987)
  • The Round Art, by A.T. Mann (1979/1991)
  • History of Mathematics, by Carl B. Boyer (1968)
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