Debating the Stars in the Italian Renaissance

Ovanes Akopyan, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the University of Innsbruck.

Preface



Part 1: Before the Disputationes

1 Scientia naturalis, Kabbalah and Celestial Spheres: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola on Astrology (1486–1493)

 1 Introduction

 2 The Commento alla Canzone d’amore

 3 The Trilogy

 4 The Heptaplus and the Expositiones in Psalmos



Part 2: The Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem

2 Introductory Remarks

 1 Text and Its Structure

 2 Edition and Authorship



3 Reading Texts: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and His Sources



4 Me quoque adolescentem olim fallebat: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola versus Prisca theologia

 1 Introduction

 2 Prisca theologia in Giovanni Pico’s Writings before the Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem

 3 On the Origin of Astrology: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Versus Prisca theologia

 4 Conclusion



5 ‘Princeps aliorum’ and His Followers: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola on the ‘Astrological Tradition’ in the Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem

 1 Introduction

 2 The Use of Astrological Techniques and Its Controversies

 3 Pseudo-Ptolemy’s Centiloquium in the Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem

 4 The Great Conjunctions, Abu Ma‘shar and ‘Other’ Astrologers

 5 Medieval Christian Astrologers and the Problem of Religion in the Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem

 6 Conclusion



6 Back to Aristotle? Natural Philosophy in the Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem



Part 3: The Disputationes: Pro et contra

7 Ideological Appropriation of Giovanni Pico’s Disputationes: Girolamo Savonarola and his Contro gli astrologi



8 Praenotio, Prisca haeresis and Astrology: Gianfrancesco Pico della Mirandola Between Savonarola and Giovanni Pico

 1 Introduction

 2 The De rerum praenotione and the Quaestio de falsitate astrologiae: Praenotio Versus Prophetia

 3 The Controversial Use of (Anti-)Astrological Authorities in the De rerum praenotione

 4 Prisca theologia as prisca haeresis

 5 Aristotle and Natural Philosophical Arguments Against Astrology

 6 Conclusion



9 With ‘Latins’ Against ‘Latin Vice’: Maximus the Greek on Astrology



10 Lucio Bellanti and the Return to ‘Christian Astrology’



11 Poet, Astrologer, Courtier: Giovanni Gioviano Pontano versus Giovanni Pico della Mirandola



12 Astrology in Francesco Zorzi’s De harmonia mundi: A Response to Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s Disputationes adversus astrologiam?



13 Conclusion


Bibliography

 Primary Sources

 Secondary Literature

Index