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In premodern Islamic astrology, the demarcation between knowledge gained by experience and theoretical knowledge is difficult to discern. Astrology is often described as a ṣināʿa (craftCraftṣināʿa or profession) rather than an ʿilmʿilm (pl. ʿulūm) (science) (science) and is therefore comparable to other ṣināʿāt (crafts)—such as animal husbandryAnimal husbandry, midwiferyMidwifery, andNavigation navigationnavigation—in which skill is combined with experience (tajribaTajriba (tried-and-tested experience), experimentumExperimentum). Common to all these crafts is also the experience of one’s teachers and predecessors. What is added by the astrologers, along with the doctorsPhysicians, is the structured ordering of such experiences in written form and the attempt to explain the experienced phenomena on a theoretical basis. Both astrologers and doctorsPhysicians were subject to examinations by authoritiesAuthorities, with the aim of proving that they had scientific knowledge that could be applied in practicePractice. This study focuses on the contribution to the discussion of theory and practicePractice of the Great Introduction to Astrology by Abū MaʿsharAbū Maʿshar (Albumasar) (Albumasar, 787–886 CE).

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“Obvious, Clear, and in Front of Our Eyes”: Defending the Science of Astrology by Means of Experience

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    2025年

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  • Charles Burnett

摘要

In premodern Islamic astrology, the demarcation between knowledge gained by experience and theoretical knowledge is difficult to discern. Astrology is often described as a ṣināʿa (craftCraftṣināʿa or profession) rather than an ʿilmʿilm (pl. ʿulūm) (science) (science) and is therefore comparable to other ṣināʿāt (crafts)—such as animal husbandryAnimal husbandry, midwiferyMidwifery, andNavigation navigationnavigation—in which skill is combined with experience (tajribaTajriba (tried-and-tested experience), experimentumExperimentum). Common to all these crafts is also the experience of one’s teachers and predecessors. What is added by the astrologers, along with the doctorsPhysicians, is the structured ordering of such experiences in written form and the attempt to explain the experienced phenomena on a theoretical basis. Both astrologers and doctorsPhysicians were subject to examinations by authoritiesAuthorities, with the aim of proving that they had scientific knowledge that could be applied in practicePractice. This study focuses on the contribution to the discussion of theory and practicePractice of the Great Introduction to Astrology by Abū MaʿsharAbū Maʿshar (Albumasar) (Albumasar, 787–886 CE).