I feel many features can be mixed that they group together almost arbitrarily. For example, I think my figure is both neither too fat or skinny (Sanguine), but I have prominent veins and some muscle (Melancholic and Choleric). Also, my blonde hair fits with both Choleric and Phlegmatic. I also don't think my dreams are represented in the categories; they tend to be mundaine and cover random daily tasks. Then, I have anxious, action packed, and pleasant dreams. I also try to look at both the bigger picture and individual details, so my mind could have Sanguine and melancholic tendencies. I can see this being a cool way to describe oneself, but I don't think it can carry over any further than that. It definently shouldn't be used for medical reasons.
Skit for group two (Riana, Sebastian, Ryan, Chloe, Marissa, Kai) -
Sebastian came to Thailand to play professional basketball for the national team (all of his games are on Sundays… don’t ask about practices because he doesn’t need them). Upon arriving, he explored the city, went on hikes (and spelunking in caves), made friends, and got accustomed to his new life. His diet has consisted mainly of pad thai and green curry. Unfortunately, on August 5th, 2024 at 12:00 am, Sebastian noticed that he began urinating blood. Furthermore, he has developed a wet cough, is drooling often, and has been very physically fatigued. Over the past month, his afflictions have only grown worse and less manageable.
Born on January 14th at 6:00 am, his sun sign is Capricorn and his sixth house is in Jupiter, which means he may be predisposed to health concerns. However, on the date of the affliction, there was no planet in his sixth house. As a Capricorn with a Melancholic temperament, Sebastian thrives in cold and dry environments and is prone to anemia, dehydration, and rheumatism. Therefore, he needs to preferably be ingesting more minerals such as iron and drinking exponentially more water. Furthermore, he needs to be sleeping way more than he has been, which is only 5 hours. Based on his temperament, the nature of his illness, and his current needs, Sebastian needs to find snakeweed, as it is cold and dry and dissolves congealed blood. Godspeed.
The first time I came into contact with the ancient Greek humoral concepts of the body was in my 9th grade English class in which we were reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Our teacher passed out a test which we were to take, to determine our temperament. We then used the information we learned from this test to ascribe temperaments to the different characters of the play. Of course, I now know that there are different factors that affect one’s baseline temperament, as the rapidly changing connection and relationship between the physical world and our body results in different emotional states. For example, because I am a Pisces, my baseline temperament would be phlegmatic (cold/wet), which guides how the six ‘non-naturals’ would affect my body and emotional state. Looking back, I appreciate my 9th grade teacher for attempting to contextualize the text within the manner of thinking that was prevalent at the time, and to the author himself.
While I originally posted a comment of my group’s skit for some extra points, I do think that this topic deserved some serious discourse for me. Since our discussion in class, I have found myself considering how everything I view and experience represents a form of similitude in one way or another. When I see my little cousin Oliver repeating phrases that I and the other ‘big kids’, my cousins, say I see it as being an example of Aemulatio, or emulation. Or, when I observe the people lying around in the North Quad next to the flowers and weeds, I see Analogy, in that both forms take on bodies with certain limbs and a head, and who both act in conjunction when stretching up at the sun. This week’s reading was perhaps one that stuck with me the most, and I am so grateful for it and the ways in which it has changed the way I see the world.
This material offers a fascinating glimpse into a worldview profoundly different from our own, where similarity and interconnectedness shaped the understanding of existence. Foucault’s framework of the four similitudes highlights a universe where everything was linked—earth mirrored the heavens, human bodies were microcosms of the cosmos, and visible signs carried hidden meanings. The concept of the six non-naturals emphasizes the body's inherent mutability, influenced by external forces like emotions, diet, and climate. It’s striking to consider how this dynamic, fluid sense of identity contrasts sharply with modern notions of fixed traits and stable categories. This perspective invites reflection on how historical contexts shape our understanding of health, selfhood, and the body’s relationship with the natural world. How might embracing such interconnectedness influence our approach to health and identity today?
I was obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with astrology. So much so that I was known as the astrology girl. I went to a private catholic all-girls school, so you would think that it wasn’t the best environment for my views. But it was quite the opposite. Teachers would ask for readings, and even some of the nuns at the covenant asked me about it with genuine curiosity. I worked at a crystal shop in Sedona, and when it came down to basic beliefs among us employees, they all revolved around interconnectedness with the world and people around us. I thought about this while I reread this post, as it shows that we have always been looking for connections to help us better understand our lives. Our lives, as you said, are reflected in the cosmos, and the yearning to find deeper meaning and connection in our lives is seen in this. My work in the crystal shop also really opened a door for me into Eastern ideas of the body, most specifically into auras and chakras. The 7 chakras are associated with different parts of the body, which are then connected to different planets, and most interestingly with different plants and smells and colors. While we were definitely taught to sell the Westernized version of this, one thing that we really emphasized was that if you have an issue in a chakra you should get a crystal in the color the aura is represented by. For example, if you have a problem in your root chakra you need a red stone like a garnet. It is really cool to make that connection after my time there, and even if this idea does not follow traditional teachings, it still shows how people use the idea of aemulatio to help better understand and heal their bodies and spirits.
Thank you for recontextualizing resemblances in terms of the search for perfection. I had forgotten that sanguine was the "ideal" temperament to reach. In relating this to Christianity, we can make connections between the striving towards moral perfection for the purpose of being the "elect" that reach the gates of heaven. In attempting to reach a sanguine temperamental state, one is also attempting to reach "perfection". I wonder if there was any explicit connection made during the Renaissance era between being sanguine and being without sin.
My knowledge was also very limited regarding medical sciences during the Renaissance era. I knew that much of what they knew about the human body or approaches for curing health problems could be traced back to earlier centuries, and the use of astrology to determine 'the problems.' But its as you mentioned about Foucault, still despite the progress in knowledge being made, people during this time were still clinging to the past while at the same time trying to go forward.
I also felt like it was an attempt to stay connected to the natural world while also being distant from it! I felt this most in the idea that everything is connected somehow, which allows a person to really determine the extent to which they are connected to the earth. The planets don’t physically touch, but also they can’t, so you just have a relationship in which they effect you. You show that while the world effects you, you have some kind of control over it. You can counter act the effects of the universe with more things from the universe, creating an ongoing loop of reversing effects the universe has bestowed on you.
YES, there's always box that people try to fit into. There are certain people that act certain ways. This topic was difficult for me to understand as well. I didn't see myself in any of the categories, to be honest.
Good point about emulation...but how about astrology? Does not the body change to reflect the movement of the heavens? Or the presence of a planet in the sky? Could we call that emulation? Just playing around with this. Interesting comment!
This comedy skit related to Foucault and humoralism: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ayueQbC9kA5UG8xw/?mibextid=D5vuiz
I feel many features can be mixed that they group together almost arbitrarily. For example, I think my figure is both neither too fat or skinny (Sanguine), but I have prominent veins and some muscle (Melancholic and Choleric). Also, my blonde hair fits with both Choleric and Phlegmatic. I also don't think my dreams are represented in the categories; they tend to be mundaine and cover random daily tasks. Then, I have anxious, action packed, and pleasant dreams. I also try to look at both the bigger picture and individual details, so my mind could have Sanguine and melancholic tendencies. I can see this being a cool way to describe oneself, but I don't think it can carry over any further than that. It definently shouldn't be used for medical reasons.
Skit for group two (Riana, Sebastian, Ryan, Chloe, Marissa, Kai) -
Sebastian came to Thailand to play professional basketball for the national team (all of his games are on Sundays… don’t ask about practices because he doesn’t need them). Upon arriving, he explored the city, went on hikes (and spelunking in caves), made friends, and got accustomed to his new life. His diet has consisted mainly of pad thai and green curry. Unfortunately, on August 5th, 2024 at 12:00 am, Sebastian noticed that he began urinating blood. Furthermore, he has developed a wet cough, is drooling often, and has been very physically fatigued. Over the past month, his afflictions have only grown worse and less manageable.
Born on January 14th at 6:00 am, his sun sign is Capricorn and his sixth house is in Jupiter, which means he may be predisposed to health concerns. However, on the date of the affliction, there was no planet in his sixth house. As a Capricorn with a Melancholic temperament, Sebastian thrives in cold and dry environments and is prone to anemia, dehydration, and rheumatism. Therefore, he needs to preferably be ingesting more minerals such as iron and drinking exponentially more water. Furthermore, he needs to be sleeping way more than he has been, which is only 5 hours. Based on his temperament, the nature of his illness, and his current needs, Sebastian needs to find snakeweed, as it is cold and dry and dissolves congealed blood. Godspeed.
The first time I came into contact with the ancient Greek humoral concepts of the body was in my 9th grade English class in which we were reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Our teacher passed out a test which we were to take, to determine our temperament. We then used the information we learned from this test to ascribe temperaments to the different characters of the play. Of course, I now know that there are different factors that affect one’s baseline temperament, as the rapidly changing connection and relationship between the physical world and our body results in different emotional states. For example, because I am a Pisces, my baseline temperament would be phlegmatic (cold/wet), which guides how the six ‘non-naturals’ would affect my body and emotional state. Looking back, I appreciate my 9th grade teacher for attempting to contextualize the text within the manner of thinking that was prevalent at the time, and to the author himself.
While I originally posted a comment of my group’s skit for some extra points, I do think that this topic deserved some serious discourse for me. Since our discussion in class, I have found myself considering how everything I view and experience represents a form of similitude in one way or another. When I see my little cousin Oliver repeating phrases that I and the other ‘big kids’, my cousins, say I see it as being an example of Aemulatio, or emulation. Or, when I observe the people lying around in the North Quad next to the flowers and weeds, I see Analogy, in that both forms take on bodies with certain limbs and a head, and who both act in conjunction when stretching up at the sun. This week’s reading was perhaps one that stuck with me the most, and I am so grateful for it and the ways in which it has changed the way I see the world.
This material offers a fascinating glimpse into a worldview profoundly different from our own, where similarity and interconnectedness shaped the understanding of existence. Foucault’s framework of the four similitudes highlights a universe where everything was linked—earth mirrored the heavens, human bodies were microcosms of the cosmos, and visible signs carried hidden meanings. The concept of the six non-naturals emphasizes the body's inherent mutability, influenced by external forces like emotions, diet, and climate. It’s striking to consider how this dynamic, fluid sense of identity contrasts sharply with modern notions of fixed traits and stable categories. This perspective invites reflection on how historical contexts shape our understanding of health, selfhood, and the body’s relationship with the natural world. How might embracing such interconnectedness influence our approach to health and identity today?
I was obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with astrology. So much so that I was known as the astrology girl. I went to a private catholic all-girls school, so you would think that it wasn’t the best environment for my views. But it was quite the opposite. Teachers would ask for readings, and even some of the nuns at the covenant asked me about it with genuine curiosity. I worked at a crystal shop in Sedona, and when it came down to basic beliefs among us employees, they all revolved around interconnectedness with the world and people around us. I thought about this while I reread this post, as it shows that we have always been looking for connections to help us better understand our lives. Our lives, as you said, are reflected in the cosmos, and the yearning to find deeper meaning and connection in our lives is seen in this. My work in the crystal shop also really opened a door for me into Eastern ideas of the body, most specifically into auras and chakras. The 7 chakras are associated with different parts of the body, which are then connected to different planets, and most interestingly with different plants and smells and colors. While we were definitely taught to sell the Westernized version of this, one thing that we really emphasized was that if you have an issue in a chakra you should get a crystal in the color the aura is represented by. For example, if you have a problem in your root chakra you need a red stone like a garnet. It is really cool to make that connection after my time there, and even if this idea does not follow traditional teachings, it still shows how people use the idea of aemulatio to help better understand and heal their bodies and spirits.
Thank you for recontextualizing resemblances in terms of the search for perfection. I had forgotten that sanguine was the "ideal" temperament to reach. In relating this to Christianity, we can make connections between the striving towards moral perfection for the purpose of being the "elect" that reach the gates of heaven. In attempting to reach a sanguine temperamental state, one is also attempting to reach "perfection". I wonder if there was any explicit connection made during the Renaissance era between being sanguine and being without sin.
My knowledge was also very limited regarding medical sciences during the Renaissance era. I knew that much of what they knew about the human body or approaches for curing health problems could be traced back to earlier centuries, and the use of astrology to determine 'the problems.' But its as you mentioned about Foucault, still despite the progress in knowledge being made, people during this time were still clinging to the past while at the same time trying to go forward.
I also felt like it was an attempt to stay connected to the natural world while also being distant from it! I felt this most in the idea that everything is connected somehow, which allows a person to really determine the extent to which they are connected to the earth. The planets don’t physically touch, but also they can’t, so you just have a relationship in which they effect you. You show that while the world effects you, you have some kind of control over it. You can counter act the effects of the universe with more things from the universe, creating an ongoing loop of reversing effects the universe has bestowed on you.
YES, there's always box that people try to fit into. There are certain people that act certain ways. This topic was difficult for me to understand as well. I didn't see myself in any of the categories, to be honest.
Good point about emulation...but how about astrology? Does not the body change to reflect the movement of the heavens? Or the presence of a planet in the sky? Could we call that emulation? Just playing around with this. Interesting comment!