Ptolemy's PhilosophyPub Date : 2018-10-16DOI: 10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0005
Jacqueline Feke
{"title":"Harmonia","authors":"Jacqueline Feke","doi":"10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0005","url":null,"abstract":"In the Harmonics, Ptolemy reveals that the heavens and human souls share the same formal structure. They are characterized by the same set of ratios, the ones studied by harmonics, the mathematical science that investigates the relations among musical pitches. In other words, harmonic ratios describe the relations among not only musical pitches but also the parts of the human soul and the movements and configurations of heavenly bodies. Moreover, Ptolemy explains why it is that these various objects are characterized by these same ratios. It is because of harmonia. This chapter argues that concept of harmonia is the crux of Ptolemy's ethical theory. It is because harmonia operates most fully in human souls, the heavens, and musical scale systems that human beings' mathematical study of the latter two sets of phenomena has the power to shape and transform their souls.","PeriodicalId":363823,"journal":{"name":"Ptolemy's Philosophy","volume":"113 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122450891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ptolemy's PhilosophyPub Date : 2018-10-16DOI: 10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0002
Jacqueline Feke
{"title":"Defining the Sciences","authors":"Jacqueline Feke","doi":"10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0002","url":null,"abstract":"Taking Almagest 1.1 as the starting point of this study, as it functions as an epitome of Ptolemy's general philosophical system, this chapter argues that the metaphysics Ptolemy presents when differentiating the three theoretical sciences—physics, mathematics, and theology—is Aristotelian, though not Aristotle's. They do not derive directly from Aristotle's Metaphysics but from his greater corpus. Ptolemy appropriates aspects of Aristotle's metaphysics and epistemology to construct his own. Ptolemy adapts criteria from Aristotle's broader corpus to distinguish the objects of the sciences and, by extension, the sciences themselves. Whether and how an object is perceptible determines whether it is studied by physics, mathematics, or theology. An imperceptible object, the Prime Mover, is studied by theology, special sensibles are studied by physics, and common sensibles are studied by mathematics.","PeriodicalId":363823,"journal":{"name":"Ptolemy's Philosophy","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133744738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ptolemy's PhilosophyPub Date : 2018-10-16DOI: 10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0004
Jacqueline Feke
{"title":"Mathematics and the Good Life","authors":"Jacqueline Feke","doi":"10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0004","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter demonstrates how Ptolemy's distinctly mathematical ethics emerges from his response to a contemporary debate over the relationship between theoretical and practical philosophy. He first asserts that the two are independent, differentiated by the manner in which one attains virtues in each domain, whether by instruction or continuous activity. Thereafter, he diminishes the distinction by revealing how they relate. Theoretical philosophy, specifically mathematics, transforms the soul. The study of astronomical objects—the movements and configurations of heavenly bodies—reveals their constancy, good order, commensurability, and calm. Mathematicians, aided by habit, come to appreciate these qualities and transform their souls into a fine and well-ordered state. Organizing their actions in accordance with astronomical theories, they never forget their ultimate objective, the divine-like condition of the soul. The study of mathematics is crucial to obtaining this good life.","PeriodicalId":363823,"journal":{"name":"Ptolemy's Philosophy","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121173954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ptolemy's PhilosophyPub Date : 2018-10-16DOI: 10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0006
Jacqueline Feke
{"title":"Harmonics and Astronomy","authors":"Jacqueline Feke","doi":"10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23943/PRINCETON/9780691179582.003.0006","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter analyzes in what ways and to what degree harmonics and astronomy are complementary, particularly with respect to their epistemic efficacy. In Almagest 1.1, Ptolemy claims that mathematics provides sure and incontrovertible knowledge. In his study of harmonics and astronomy, does he maintain this position? Does Ptolemy consider his harmonic and astronomical judgments to be sure and incontrovertible knowledge? It is argued that Ptolemy's Harmonics and Almagest indicate that harmonics does attain this epistemic success, but astronomy does so only in certain respects. How astronomy falters epistemologically has consequences for Ptolemy's practice of astronomy as well as the relevance of the various parts of his astronomy to his ethical system.","PeriodicalId":363823,"journal":{"name":"Ptolemy's Philosophy","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134349362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ptolemy's PhilosophyPub Date : 2018-10-16DOI: 10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0009
Jacqueline Feke
{"title":"Conclusion","authors":"Jacqueline Feke","doi":"10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23943/princeton/9780691179582.003.0009","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter summarizes key themes and presents some final thoughts. It suggests that Ptolemy attempted to quantify his astronomical models because astronomy, like astrology, is by definition a predictive science. Ptolemy defines astronomy in juxtaposition with astrology in the first chapter of the Tetrabiblos. Consistent with Almagest 1.1, he claims that the judgments of astronomy are sure, whereas astrology, like every other study of material quality, is conjectural. Yet, the claims of astrology are still possible, as opposed to impossible, and therefore they merit study. The chapter then considers the question of whether Ptolemy's his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics were influential.","PeriodicalId":363823,"journal":{"name":"Ptolemy's Philosophy","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114302107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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