La passion des astres au XVIIe siècle: De l'astrologie à l'astronomie Grenet, Micheline

Micheline Grenet’s La passion des astres au XVIIe siècle examines the historical shift from astrology to astronomy during the seventeenth century. The text analyzes how specific political and intellectual events accelerated this transition. It details the impact of the 1682 royal ordinance against witchcraft, which marked a significant legal turning point in the treatment of magical practices. The author also explores the critical views held by Fontenelle and Malebranche regarding magic, showing how their skepticism contributed to the decline of astrological authority. The narrative traces the influence of Isaac Newton’s Principia, published in 1686, on the rise of rationalist thought. Grenet documents how these factors collectively moved European thinking away from magical paradigms toward emerging astronomical frameworks. The book serves as a documented account of this intellectual evolution, focusing on the specific mechanisms that allowed science to supersede older mystical traditions. It is suitable for readers interested in the history of science and the sociopolitical context of seventeenth-century France. It may not appeal to those seeking practical astrological guidance or modern esoteric instruction. Grenet’s work provides a clear view of how royal decrees and philosophical critiques reshaped public understanding of the stars. The text connects legal actions against sorcery with the broader acceptance of Newtonian physics. This approach highlights the tension between traditional magical beliefs and the new rationalist standards that defined the era. The book remains a focused study on this specific period of change.