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Ptolemy's Philosophy: Mathematics as a Way of Life
A stimulating intellectual history of Ptolemy's philosophy and his conception of a world in which mathematics reigns supreme
The Greco-Roman mathematician Claudius Ptolemy is one of the most significant figures in the history of science. He is remembered today for his astronomy, but his philosophy is almost entirely lost to history. This groundbreaking book is the first to reconstruct Ptolemy’s general philosophical system―including his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics―and to explore its relationship to astronomy, harmonics, element theory, astrology, cosmology, psychology, and theology.
In this stimulating intellectual history, Jacqueline Feke uncovers references to a complex and sophisticated philosophical agenda scattered among Ptolemy’s technical studies in the physical and mathematical sciences. She shows how he developed a philosophy that was radical and even subversive, appropriating ideas and turning them against the very philosophers from whom he drew influence. Feke reveals how Ptolemy’s unique system is at once a critique of prevailing philosophical trends and a conception of the world in which mathematics reigns supreme.
A compelling work of scholarship, Ptolemy’s Philosophy demonstrates how Ptolemy situated mathematics at the very foundation of all philosophy―theoretical and practical―and advanced the mathematical way of life as the true path to human perfection.
The Greco-Roman mathematician Claudius Ptolemy is one of the most significant figures in the history of science. He is remembered today for his astronomy, but his philosophy is almost entirely lost to history. This groundbreaking book is the first to reconstruct Ptolemy’s general philosophical system―including his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics―and to explore its relationship to astronomy, harmonics, element theory, astrology, cosmology, psychology, and theology.
In this stimulating intellectual history, Jacqueline Feke uncovers references to a complex and sophisticated philosophical agenda scattered among Ptolemy’s technical studies in the physical and mathematical sciences. She shows how he developed a philosophy that was radical and even subversive, appropriating ideas and turning them against the very philosophers from whom he drew influence. Feke reveals how Ptolemy’s unique system is at once a critique of prevailing philosophical trends and a conception of the world in which mathematics reigns supreme.
A compelling work of scholarship, Ptolemy’s Philosophy demonstrates how Ptolemy situated mathematics at the very foundation of all philosophy―theoretical and practical―and advanced the mathematical way of life as the true path to human perfection.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 22, 2020
This is a quite interesting book on Ptolemy's philosophy, as its name shows us. The author reconstruct the main philosophical ideas that lies between lines in Ptolemy's writing, and she point out the differences with respect to his predecessors: Aristotle and Plato. The book is very well written and truly avoid any academic language making it accessible to almost every public.
It is really amazing to notice that Ptolemy considers Mathematics as the higher science, and only through math one can achieve knowledge. Also, while we are reading it we are able to understand which is the reasoning behind Ptolemy's planetary system.
I recommend it completely.
It is really amazing to notice that Ptolemy considers Mathematics as the higher science, and only through math one can achieve knowledge. Also, while we are reading it we are able to understand which is the reasoning behind Ptolemy's planetary system.
I recommend it completely.
January 31, 2020
I know that I am mortal and ephemeral, but whenever
I search the close spiral course of stars
My feet no longer touch the earth, rather in the presence of
Zeus himself I feed on god sustaining Ambrosia
(Greek Anthology, Book 9, Chapter 577, attributed to Ptolemy)
This book is an examination of the philosophical basis of the work of ancient mathematician and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy is the most celebrated astronomer of the Greek world, but the philosophy underlying his work is often quickly categorized in terms of figures such as Aristotle. Feke seeks to elucidate Ptolemy's underlying thought, distinguish it from that of others and at the same time place It in context of wider Greek and Roman philosophy. Feke focuses on the methodological statements that Ptolemy makes in his works on astronomy, astrology and harmonics and on the framework of human nature he employs to frame his work; for example, the view that the human soul is composed of parts that at best work in the same sort of mathematical ratios as the heavens or musical scales.
Through this close reading of Ptolemy Feke makes a persuasive case that Ptolemy had a distinct view of the way in which knowledge could be acquired and the most reliable forms of knowledge, privileging mathematical astronomy as a path to truth above physics or theology. She also draws various suggestive connections in Ptolemy's terminology and classifications to other philosophers, mixing not merely the old standbys of Plato and Aristotle, but also neo-Platonic themes, Stoic ideas and even some Epicurean elements. She also briefly surveys some of the indications of the influence of Ptolemy's thought on later thinkers.
In many cases Feke's exegesis is speculative such as her attempts to explain differences in Ptolemy's conditions for arriving at truth in investigations to later developments in his philosophy by putting forward a chronology for the various works and claiming the changes represent an evolution of Ptolemy's thought in light of his later work. Likewise in other places where Ptolemy has taken different positions in different books the reconciliation offered by Feke is necessarily speculative. The connections Feke draws between Ptolemy and other contemporaries can be founded solidly in many similarities of ideas or based on one or a few key similarities and in the latter cases strikes me as speculative and subject to doubt, but intriguing and suggestive nevertheless.
Perhaps the biggest recurring theme of the book is the view that Ptolemy makes a case for the mathematical disciplines as uniquely constituting the path to the good life, both in terms of achieving regulation of human passions and allowing the contemplation of philosophical truth. It is clear that Ptolemy did indeed champion the mathematical disciplines as a way to knowledge and practical ends like self-discipline, but Feke makes the case that Ptolemy's claim is deeper, more radical and more worthy of distinction from his contemporaries than has generally been recognized. The poem I quoted at the start of this review is attributed to Ptolemy and although that attribution is dubious the sentiment is clearly in-line with what appears in the astronomers works.
Overall this is a good book on Ptolemy's methodology and relation to other thinkers, but it is also a useful introduction to thought on questions we would now recognize as scientific in the ancient world, theories of perception, evidence and proof are touched on along with the particular technicalities of Ptolemy's work. Also discussed are issues of the nature of Ptolemy's beliefs about his technical work; did Ptolemy believe in the reality of celestial spheres, epicycles and equants and this has some applicability to later debates in the philosophy of science.
Note I read an e-book version of this (which has the same ISBN as the hardcover apparently). The book's English was legible, loaded quickly etc. however the extensive Greek text in the footnote/endnotes was not rendered correctly on my ereader, also the preview footnote/endnote function did not work correctly most of the time.
I search the close spiral course of stars
My feet no longer touch the earth, rather in the presence of
Zeus himself I feed on god sustaining Ambrosia
(Greek Anthology, Book 9, Chapter 577, attributed to Ptolemy)
This book is an examination of the philosophical basis of the work of ancient mathematician and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy is the most celebrated astronomer of the Greek world, but the philosophy underlying his work is often quickly categorized in terms of figures such as Aristotle. Feke seeks to elucidate Ptolemy's underlying thought, distinguish it from that of others and at the same time place It in context of wider Greek and Roman philosophy. Feke focuses on the methodological statements that Ptolemy makes in his works on astronomy, astrology and harmonics and on the framework of human nature he employs to frame his work; for example, the view that the human soul is composed of parts that at best work in the same sort of mathematical ratios as the heavens or musical scales.
Through this close reading of Ptolemy Feke makes a persuasive case that Ptolemy had a distinct view of the way in which knowledge could be acquired and the most reliable forms of knowledge, privileging mathematical astronomy as a path to truth above physics or theology. She also draws various suggestive connections in Ptolemy's terminology and classifications to other philosophers, mixing not merely the old standbys of Plato and Aristotle, but also neo-Platonic themes, Stoic ideas and even some Epicurean elements. She also briefly surveys some of the indications of the influence of Ptolemy's thought on later thinkers.
In many cases Feke's exegesis is speculative such as her attempts to explain differences in Ptolemy's conditions for arriving at truth in investigations to later developments in his philosophy by putting forward a chronology for the various works and claiming the changes represent an evolution of Ptolemy's thought in light of his later work. Likewise in other places where Ptolemy has taken different positions in different books the reconciliation offered by Feke is necessarily speculative. The connections Feke draws between Ptolemy and other contemporaries can be founded solidly in many similarities of ideas or based on one or a few key similarities and in the latter cases strikes me as speculative and subject to doubt, but intriguing and suggestive nevertheless.
Perhaps the biggest recurring theme of the book is the view that Ptolemy makes a case for the mathematical disciplines as uniquely constituting the path to the good life, both in terms of achieving regulation of human passions and allowing the contemplation of philosophical truth. It is clear that Ptolemy did indeed champion the mathematical disciplines as a way to knowledge and practical ends like self-discipline, but Feke makes the case that Ptolemy's claim is deeper, more radical and more worthy of distinction from his contemporaries than has generally been recognized. The poem I quoted at the start of this review is attributed to Ptolemy and although that attribution is dubious the sentiment is clearly in-line with what appears in the astronomers works.
Overall this is a good book on Ptolemy's methodology and relation to other thinkers, but it is also a useful introduction to thought on questions we would now recognize as scientific in the ancient world, theories of perception, evidence and proof are touched on along with the particular technicalities of Ptolemy's work. Also discussed are issues of the nature of Ptolemy's beliefs about his technical work; did Ptolemy believe in the reality of celestial spheres, epicycles and equants and this has some applicability to later debates in the philosophy of science.
Note I read an e-book version of this (which has the same ISBN as the hardcover apparently). The book's English was legible, loaded quickly etc. however the extensive Greek text in the footnote/endnotes was not rendered correctly on my ereader, also the preview footnote/endnote function did not work correctly most of the time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews