Introduction to Astronomy

...continuation: the elements of the world are the recipients of this second influence. All other things, whether the bodies of living creatures, seeds, or metals, belong to this second category. Man alone is suited to both: from the first—that is, the deliberation of the rational soul—and the movement adapted to the body, he either pursues or avoids the second influence. For it is not necessary for the starry bodies to have the deliberation of a rational soul, either to seek something they lack or to flee something they fear.

¶ The fourth sect of a higher rank consists of those who devote themselves to the works of universal science. They clearly assert that the movements of the stars are the guides for the things of this world, with the exception of the alterations of the seasons original: "temporum alterationibus"; however, they seem to stand in a contradiction when they speak without due consideration. For who, indeed, could assign the power of the stars to the changes of the seasons while trying to take it away from those things that follow the changes of the seasons? They say this is absurd. For it is certain to one conscious of nature that the alterations of the seasons are the "vomit" A metaphorical term for an outpouring or result or cause of elementary resolution, while the stars are the author of all generations and corruptions. Thus, it is necessary that the movements of the stars be continued from the seasons to the elements, and from the elements to the outcomes of things.

Furthermore, in all philosophy abbreviated as "phia" in text, after that first type, this species of celestial wisdom is commonly used. Indeed, by the universal opinion of philosophers, all the fruit of that first science is referred back to this second one. For what does it profit, they say, to follow the circuits and various courses of the stars unless we understand toward what they tend? Let us attain the goal to which they lead; otherwise, these honors seem rightly compared to those who preserve precious roots, seeds, and useful or useless species of things, but do not know how to use the good they possess. For this reason, a slight reproach follows them in their science: since these two sciences are continuous and together compose a whole, they sow one but are ignorant of the other.

¶ The fifth sect of the same order consists of those who, while they might study the former science, totally reject this one. They take as their argument the foundation I have often repeated: that nothing is certain unless confirmed by experience original: "experimento", and that this is impossible in the movements of the stars regarding human life. For it is impossible for any star to be found now in this exact place referring to the recurrence of exact astronomical alignments; therefore, they claim the study of astrology astrologia: in this period, the term encompassed both astronomy and the study of celestial influences is ineffective and vain.

Against these, the investigation of ancient skill has indeed experienced the powers of the stars through this work. For there is one celestial guidance that is particular and manifest, and another that is universal. The particular is like the Sun symbolized as ☉ in heat and the Moon symbolized as ☽ in moisture, and the stars in the daily variation of the breezes. The universal, however, is as in the revolution of the years, the guidance of the diversities of births among the qualities of the elements and their temperament, as well as the accidents of the world between health and sickness, and the fortunes of man. Although these things could be less constant, nevertheless the philosopher abbreviated as "ph̃s" was able to experience the accidents of the world and the affairs of men in a shorter space of time through the various courses of the stars through the signs: fiery, earthy, airy, and aquatic. For thus they acted, even those who followed the movements of the stars. Indeed, no one waited a thousand or five hundred years for a return of the stars; rather, he who had observed the positions of the stars in the span of his own life left it in writing for posterity. Then, after some years had passed, another age found other positions of the stars, and a measurement was held between both the limits of the places and the times. For thus Ptolemy original: "Ptholomeus", having accepted the positions and movements of the stars from a certain time, together with the method of discovery, established the movements and positions of the stars by reasonable skills in his own time.