CHAPTER VI. Critics of Magic

CRITICS OF MAGIC

Review of the usual attitude towards magic in the Roman Empire 88

I. Opponents of Astrology: Cicero, Favorinus and Sextus Empiricus 89 Considerations which discount their scepticism 89 Inadequacy of their arguments 90 Astrology attacked as being impracticable 91 General problem of sidereal influence left untouched 92

II. Cicero’s Attack upon Divination: In a way an attack upon magic as a whole 93 Form and arrangement of De Divinatione 94 Its relations to the past and to the future 94 Appeal of Quintus to antiquity and to tradition 94 Cicero’s reply; condemnation of reliance on tradition 95 Divination declared quite distinct from science 95 Divination declared quite contrary to the laws of science 96 Idea of magical sympathy rejected 97 Cicero’s attitude very unusual for his time 98 Question as to his consistency 98