A scheme of heaven : the history of astrology and the search for our destiny in data / Alexander Boxer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boxer, Alexander, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science and astrology.

Astrology--Mathematics.

Astrology--History.

Astrology.

History.

Physical Description:

x, 319 pages, 8 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : W.W. Norton & Company, [2020]

Summary:

"An illuminating look at the surprising history and science of astrology, civilization's first system of algorithms, from Babylon to the present day. Humans are pattern-matching creatures, and astrology is our grandest pattern-matching game. In this refreshing work of history and analysis, data scientist Alexander Boxer examines classical texts on astrology to expose its underlying scientific and mathematical framework. Astrology, he argues, was the ancient world's most ambitious applied mathematics problem, a grand data-analysis enterprise sustained by some of history's most brilliant minds from Ptolemy to al- Kindi to Kepler. A "scheme of heaven," or horoscope, is recognized as pseudoscience today, but was once considered a cutting-edge scientific tool. Not only does Boxer trace different applications of horoscopes back to their origins, he also puts them to the test using modern data sets and statistical science, arguing that today's data scientists do work similar to astrologers of yore. At once critical, rigorous, and far-ranging, A Scheme of Heaven recontextualizes astrology as a vast, technological project-spanning continents and centuries-that foreshadowed our data-driven world today"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

To everything there is a season

From obscure beginnings

A quick spin around the celestial sphere

Signs from above : Marcus Manilius and the traits of the zodiac

Claudius Ptolemy's astrological travel guide

How unique is a horoscope? Vettius Valens and the gospel of fate

Patterns, patterns, everywhere! Masha'Allah's astrological history of the world

When you wish upon a star, which algorithm should you use? Guido Bonatti's astrological wheel of fortune

What's in a name? Astronomers, astrologers, and mathematicians

Big astrology

Conclusion: Upon the words of no one.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780393634846

0393634841

OCLC:

1102477695