Abū Maʿšar, Grande Introdução à Astrologia (Kitāb al-mudḫal al-kabīr ilā ʿilm aḥkām an-nuǧūm), Parte III, 1, 2.14a-b.
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We have dealt with55 the definition of astrology and the astrologer, and 2.14a what the master of astrology should examine. We shall ⟨now⟩56 mention the six things that follow this.57 We say that astrology has a starting-point, an origin, a branch,58 a proof,59 a fruit, and a finishing-point.60 The starting-point for judgements that are passionately desired is outstanding61 knowledge of the science of existing things and interest in them. Its origin is the knowledge of the quality and quantity of the movements of celestial bodies. The branch of this knowledge is to judge by them matters existing in this changeable world.62 The proof of the judgements is the correctness which comes about by prediction from the conditions of the stars and their action in the thing about which information is sought, among the things which will happen.| The acquisition of this science only comes about with difficulty and 2.14b labour,63 and correctness concerning existing things by opinion and estimation64 may be available ⟨only⟩ to a special kind of people at certain times. From this point on we have decided to begin65 with the knowledge of the conditions of the stars; then we shall subsequently add to it the judgement, in order that one should not think that the judgement of the stars is only guessed at randomly by conjecture and opinion, without knowledge of the positions, conditions, and indications of the stars. The fruit is the correctness, 66 benefit, and usefulness because of it for those who are possessors of the knowledge of the excellence of correctness. The benefit through correctness is the completeness.67 Everything that does not have completeness is lacking, and things are established68 only by completeness.
Fonte:
Yamamoto, K. & C. Burnett (ed.), 2019, The Great Introduction to Astrology by Abū Maʿšar, vol. I (2 vols.), 240-243.
Leiden/ Boston: Brill.
