In seventeenth-century England, pursuits of knowledge were shaped by two seemingly paradoxical, yet interwoven beliefs: a persistent belief in the devastating effects of the Fall on human reason, and a growing trust in human ability to sharpen understanding and pierce the seemingly impenetrable. This dissertation explores how writers of works of physiognomy, shorthand, astrology and secret history simultaneously presented human conjecture and intuition as limited and flawed but also capable of providing ordinary people with access to privileged information. The authors of these “do-it-yourself” manuals made distinctions between God’s secrecy and human secrecy and provided tips on how each could be tapped. Physiognomy inspired constant searching for hidden sources of insight; shorthand encouraged the sense that there was often more than met the eye; astrology emphasized the usefulness of uncertainty. Secret histories suggested that the very skills which the practices of physiognomy, shorthand, and astrology honed could be used to unveil the secrets of carnal monarchs, ministers, and royal mistresses. Over the course of the seventeenth century, the limits of attainable knowledge – and who could reliably present and access it – were being defined and redefined. To leading philosophers and political figures, human uncertainty necessitated the weighing of probabilities and the idealization of transparent, empirical and elite approaches to information. I argue that to writers of physiognomy, shorthand, astrology, and secret history, it reinforced the notion that arcane knowledge could be accessed by anyone. Such writers variously suggested that information that mattered to people’s daily lives depended upon personalized, conjectural and intuitive approaches to knowing. In short, secrets that were once divine and impenetrable were actually up for grabs. / Graduate / 2019-09-10

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2015-04-27T13:17:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rodrigo Santos Monteiro Oliveira - 2014.pdf: 1601856 bytes, checksum: a96584998a5b5b98a78aafad14e7b67b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-04-28T12:15:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rodrigo Santos Monteiro Oliveira - 2014.pdf: 1601856 bytes, checksum: a96584998a5b5b98a78aafad14e7b67b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-28T12:15:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rodrigo Santos Monteiro Oliveira - 2014.pdf: 1601856 bytes, checksum: a96584998a5b5b98a78aafad14e7b67b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Marco Manílio, writer of the first century of our era, structure, from his work Astronômicas, the universe. Your manual, that showing concepts and themes that we currently divide between astrology and astronomy, bring us an organizacional comprehension of the heavenly bodies, beyond an explanation about the relationship between them. This relations not only cover the portion that we understand as Heaven, but also influence in the elaboration and action of the earthly life, or, in other words, stars and humans are interconnected by an infinite relation web. In that case, we understand this work from some key points: 1- the structure of Manílio’s work, his public and the knowledge gained; 2- the comprehension about stoic philosophy (or, an approximation of what it was), in seeking to understand the choice of your utilization and, 3- the understanding of the Manílio’s time, the Empire of Otávio Augusto. This division was made in order to make this dissertation intelligible for those who have the intention of studying this period – already too much discussed – from a new look. The manilian astrology, confirmed by the utilisation of the Stoicism, explains this roman world of the first century with an intention of establish a conquest harmony for those who crossed a period of destabilization marked by constants Civil Wars. / Marco Manílio, escritor do I século d.C., estrutura, a partir de sua obra intitulada Astronômicas, o universo. Seu manual, que aborda conceitos e temas que atualmente dividimos entre astrologia e astronomia, nos traz uma compreensão organizacional dos corpos celestes, além de uma explanação acerca das relações existentes entre eles. Tais relações não abrangem somente a porção que compreendemos como Céu, mas também influenciam na elaboração e ação da vida terrena, ou seja, astros e homens estão interligados por uma teia de relações infinitas. Sendo assim, visamos entender a obra maniliana a partir de alguns pontos-chave: 1- a estrutura da obra, seu público e o conhecimento apreendido; 2- a compreensão da filosofia estóica (ou uma tentativa de aproximação do que isto seria), na busca de entendermos o porquê de sua utilização e; 3- o entendimento do período no qual Manílio estava inserido, o Principado de Otávio Augusto. Esta divisão foi feita a fim de tornar o trabalho inteligível àqueles que possuem a intenção de estudar um período – já tão discutido – a partir de um novo olhar. A astrologia maniliana, confirmada pela utilização do Estoicismo, explica este mundo romano do século I com uma intenção de estabelecer uma harmonia quista por aqueles que atravessavam um período de desestabilidade marcado pelas constantes Guerras Civis.

This diplomatic edition of Leonard Digges's 1555 of *A PROGNOSTICATION OF RIGHT GOOD effect fruitfully augmented, containing plain, brief, pleasant, chosen rules, to judge the weather forever, by the Sun, Moon, Stars, Comets, Rainbow, Thunder, Clouds, with other Extraordinary tokens, not omitting the Aspects of Planets, with a brief judgement forever, of Plenty, Lack, Sickness, Death, Wars, etc. Opening also many natural causes, worthy to be known* is intended to make the treatise available in an edited form which preserves the original page layout and wording, while modernizing spelling and providing a complete scholarly apparatus based on the latest scholarship. This apparatus includes historical notes, translations of all Latin text, a glossary of terms unfamiliar to modern audiences, and a catalogue of any conjectural emendations.

The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of why people turn to astrology in todays secularized Sweden. More specifically, the purpose of the study is to investigate whether astrology functions as a mean of self-fulfillment in the pursuit of a deep self. Petteri Pietikäinen's five aspects of the deep self were used as theory in the study to define the concept of the deep self. To conduct the study, qualitative semi-structured interviews were used. Eight astrologically interested individuals participated in individual interviews. The result shows that astrology plays a function in all aspects of a deep self. How and when the respondents turned to astrology looked different. With everything from divination, narrative about the past and as maps of the deep self.

This paper seeks to examine the ancient Kemetic science known today as astrology and discern its usefulness in benefiting people of African descent in the contemporary era. Based upon documented historical evidence, research material, and theorization apprehended from an Afrocentric standpoint the author is attempting to succinctly present a body of scientific knowledge that can develop and advance the idea of astrology as a wholistic human endeavor conceived in ancient Africa which can be and has been useful to Africa and her people. Astrology has helped humanity to make sense of life, nature, seasons, movements of times, powers and is included within the discipline of astronomy, one the seven liberal arts, including, grammar, rhetoric, philosophy, logic, geometry, mathematics and the arts. These ancient disciplines are a necessary part of each other and are studied holistically, even today. However, Europeanization has created a problem in translating these ancient African ideas, castigating its intrinsic feminine elements, separating its mythological aspects from its astronomical parts, and despiritualizing the science. Using Cheikh Anta Diop’s Two Cradle Theory, that cultures distinguish humans and behavior, it will be argued that cultural orientation is a fundamental reason why Europeans have struggled from antiquity to the present to understand astrology, a science birthed from African culture. Moreover, it is argued that owing to the deep structure of culture, people of African descent can study ancient African episteme to awaken cultural memory to understand values and beliefs and potentially (re)turn (Sankofa) to the past and comprehend and appreciate a science culturally grounded in African episteme. Ultimately, it is hoped that in this translation of astrology, which embraces the significance of Ma’at in all life and existence, it is possible through viewing astrology in its ancient light, to restore Ma’at or balance, harmony, order, righteousness, and truth in the lives of people of African descent. The ultimate goal would be to foster peace, Ma’at among humanity. / African American Studies

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A unique methodology for forecasting weather based on geocentric planetary alignments originated in ancient Mesopotamia. The method, called astrometeorology, was further developed by Greek, Arab, and Renaissance scientists including Ptolemy, Al-Kindi, Tycho Brahe and Joannes Kepler. A major 17th century effort to test the method in a Baconian fashion was made by John Goad. Building on the ideas of Kepler and Goad, I test an isolated component of the method, specifically a correlation between geocentric Sun-Saturn alignments and cold temperatures, using modern daily temperature data from New England, Central England, Prague and other locations. My hypothesis states there is a correlation, shown in daily temperature records, between cooling trends in specific regions and the geocentric alignments of the Sun and the planet Saturn. The hypothesis is supported by a number of tests that show lower temperatures on days when Sun-Saturn alignments occur, especially when near the equinoxes. The astronomy of this positioning suggests that tidal forces on the atmosphere may be part of a mechanism that would explain this effect. The abandonment of planetary weather forecasting by the intellectual elite in 16th and 17th century Europe is next organized as a history and discussion. In the final section, applications of the methodology to climate cycles is explored, particularly in regard to a 1536-year recurring cycle of outer planets and a cycle of similar length found in climate records. In addition, an account of biological processes that are structured around astronomical cycles is presented.

I detta arbete har jag haft för avsikt att utmana mina färdigheter i komposition. Detta gjorde jag genom att sätta upp ramar i form av stjärntecken att hålla mig inom. I genomförandet av undersökningen har jag läst horoskop från diverse tidningar och utefter dessa texter improviserat fram melodiskt och harmoniskt material för att skapa fyra låtar. Även stjärntecknets astrologiska ”personlighet” har vävts in i kompositionerna. Namnen på låtarna är Fiskarna, Vågen, Oxen och Skytten. Varje låt är baserat på stjärntecknet med samma namn. Arbetet resulterade även i en femte låt som bär namnet Zodiac och är en sammanfattning av de andra fyra styckena. Målet för kompositionerna var att skrivas i genren frijazz. Jag har därför lyssnat mycket på den sortens musik för att få inspiration under arbetets gång. Även grupper som rör sig inom modern jazz har givit mig oväntat många idéer för fria improvisationskoncept. Jag har också utmanat min kompositions frekvens, delvis genom att skriva de fem låtarna på nio dagar och även försöka att inte överarbeta det jag skrivit. Med detta arbete hoppas jag kunna inspirera andra kompositörer till att utforska nya typer av kompositionsmetoder och skapa annorlunda tankesätt som kan inspirera nya fantastiska melodier och konstverk.

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La thèse se propose d’étudier le développement des traités de dialectique à la Renaissance, en suivant un parcours chronologique qui mène de Lorenzo Valla à Pierre de La Ramée. Ces auteurs ne sont pas seulement abordés pour leur contribution aux arts du langage, il s’agit également de mettre en évidence la conception de l'esprit humain qu’ils défendent afin de mieux saisir la philosophie de l'esprit que les anime. En cela, notre réflexion ne saurait se limiter à réinsérer ces quelques auteurs majeurs dans la multitude, bien réelle, des traités dialectiques de l’époque. Définie comme « science des sciences », la dialectique présente, à la Renaissance, de fortes affinités avec la rhétorique. Il s'agit donc de comprendre comment l'analyse du langage à la Renaissance, largement tributaire du latin des auteurs classiques, s’oriente vers une topique de l’esprit consacrée aux formes multiples de raisonnement. En développant la discussion sur la dialectique, la thèse prend ainsi le parti d’insister sur le rôle de la théorie de la connaissance / The research proposes to study the development of the dialectical treatises during the Renaissance. In order to achieve this objective a path was chosen, going from Lorenzo Valla to Pierre de La Ramée. These authors are approached not only as offering a reflexion on language, but rather to detect the conception of the intellect they highlight. Having said that, it will not be the case to simply reinsert these authors, central for the understanding of the topic, in the actual swarm of dialectical treatises during the time, but rather to grasp the reflexion concerning the operations of the intellect, that animate them. During the Renaissance, Dialectic and Rhetoric will be brought closer and their cooperation worked in many different ways, the text will thus discuss how the analysis of the language set forth during the time, strongly supported by the Latin of classic authors, will be shifted toward a topic of the intellect, dedicated to multiples forms of reasoning. This 'dialectical' movement was not an uniform one, nevertheless, the works here consulted can be placed within the framework of a growing participation of the theory of knowledge in the discussions about dialectic, understood as the science of sciences