[HPforGrownups] Arithmancy in the Wizard World

[Magister Foran]

No: HPFGUIDX 33610

Hi all,

What is Arithmancy? Mahoney suggested it might be the science of
spellcraft, while Bonnie supplied the historical definition of
"Divination by numbers".
Arithmancy can well be both liquids in the same potion. 

As far as I can tell from what little information there is in the book
and what little insight I may have into JK Rowlings mind ;-) Arithmancy
was always used to calculate the outcome of something, rather than just
take a foggy guess out of a crystal ball or from rather vague symbols in
tea-leaves.

In the Hogwarts world, it could well be used to calculate the specific
outcome for the process of spell-creation, where you'd be especially
nervous about the possible side-effects if something went awry...
remember Flitwicks comments on pronounciation...

Bonnie wrote:
> > Not to burst your bubble or anything, but here's a muggle-world
> > definition of Arithmancy:
> > "Divination by numbers. The ancient Greeks examined the number and
> the
> > values of letters in each name of two combatants. They predicted the
> > combatant having the name of the greater value would be victorious.
> It
> > was by using this science that some diviners foretold that Achilles
> > would defeat Hector.
(Mahoney answered:)
> If arithmancy is straight divination per the definition above, why
> doesn't Trelawney teach it?  And why does Hermione, who absolutely
> poo-poo's Trelawney's class, love her arithmancy class?
> Mahoney

Because Arithmancy is based on SCIENCE and exact calculations, something
you can learn by the book, while Trelawneys Predictions are based on
INTUITION which she lacks.

As simple as that.

Kind Regards,

Magister Foran, Dept. of International Relations and New Ideas in the
Ministry of Magic of HogwartsOnline.de/HP-FC.de - Webmaster
http://hogwartsonline.de