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MAGIC CASUALITY AND INTENTIONALITY. THE DOCTRINE OF RAYS IN AL-KINDI
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INTRODUCTION CHAPTER
I CHAPTER
II CHAPTER
III CHAPTER
IV
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The doctrine of rays of al-Kindi–, the first Arabian philosopher, gives a generalised vision of a unique cosmic reality and a rationale for it. In that vision the four elements, bodies and planets make up a unified reality in which all parts seem to be made up by the very act of their constant relationship: every object projects its own nature outwards by means of rays which transmit that same nature to other objects. Thus the relationships between the stars the elements and the bodies derive from and express the causal interactions which exist between these same levels of being, and are made possible by the continuous radial flux which passes between them, since only via this flux stars, elements and bodies can mutually connect. In the cosmic unity all parts are connected empathetically between them; this unity is in constant flux due to the continuous transformation of everything, operated by the rays, and harmony is constantly attained through the recombining of forces coming from all parts of the cosmos. Thus "magic" is practised on the basis of the interaction of all the cosmic rays. | This gives the "magician", who aims at a specific purpose, the certainty of the effectiveness of his action, since "magical power" acts within cosmic relationships, whose laws the "magician" must understand in order to produce the desired effects. Indeed, the "magician"’s intentionality itself acts as a ray. The medieval period, when the kindian works were translated (XIIth century), lived a paradox of different and opposing conceptions of reality. Studying how and why some aspects of al-Kindı–’s thought were then appreciated or refuted, would possibly contribute to understand how kindian magic came to become part of the “dark side” of the Western tradition, and to illuminate the meaning and the choices of the great cultural transformations that from the Middle Ages to our time have characterized the interaction between Eastern and Western culture. | ||