| Robert H. Schmidt, who has recently embarked upon a full-scale investigation of “The Problem of Astrology,” prefers to characterize himself simply as “a thinker.” He is currently Director of Research for the newly-formed PHASER Foundation (a non-profit “think-tank” committed to investigations that lead to a confrontation with first principles in a variety of fields). Schmidt is also a co-founder of Project Hindsight and the translator of a number of works in Hellenistic Astrology from ancient Greek. He is the author of the forthcoming Hindbook of Hellenistic Astrology & Hindbook of Hellenistic Delineation. Previously, Schmidt translated other historical scientific works from Latin and German. To whatever he does, Schmidt brings long years of experience with many difficult primary sources in mathematics, science, logic and philosophy, and a determination to search out first principles whatever the personal cost. At age seventeen, he gave up a full scholarship to MIT in favor of the rigorous Great Books Program offered by St John’s College in Annapolis MD, where thanks to the work of philosopher Jacob Klein, he first became aware of the necessity for modern thinkers to study important historical works in the hard sciences. Later, he discovered on his own that delving into the “trashheap” of forgotten and discarded works of ancient, medieval and Renaissance thinkers might be even more important in shedding light on the nature of modern thought. Schmidt’s unorthodox methods of study and research began to be appreciated recently when he was invited as a philosopher to give a lecture on the Science of Proof at an important legal symposium. The fresh ideas in his paper “The Influence of the Legal Paradigm On the Development of Logic” greatly impressed the lawyers, judges, mathematicians, logicians and other academics present, and somewhat disconcerted them when he frankly told the august company that many of his best ideas had been gained in the course of investigating ancient astrological writings! --- Background: Co-Founder/Current Research Director of The PHASER Foundation (1998). Co-Founder/Principal Translator of Project Hindsight (1993). Established for the translation, restoration, and interpretation of the classical astrological tradition. Co-Founder of The Golden Hind Press (1983). Dedicated to the development of an accurate history of thought, particularly in the areas of mathematics, natural science, and logic. St John’s College (1968-73), Annapolis MD Training in foundations of mathematics, mathematical physics, history of philosophy, Greek language. Publications Articles bearing on the restoration, differentiation and accommodation of ancient mathematics within the framework of modern mathematics; articles on the concepts and procedures of Hellenistic astrology and its philosophical and scientific implications; article concerned with the science of evidence in a legal context. Translations Classical and Renaissance writings in mathematics, logic, and science; Hellenistic Greek astrological treatises. Forthcoming Books The Problem of Astrology; The Serial World of Paul Kammerer; Restorers of the Lost Art; Hindbook of Hellenistic Astrology; Hindbook of Hellenistic Delineation. Lectures PHASE Lecture Series (since 1996) - examining the philosophical and esoteric implications of Hellenistic astrology. Hellenistic Astrology Intensives (1999) - four-day workshops on the system and techniques of Hellenistic astrology, including the underlying Cosmological Model. Robert has lectured on a variety of topics to audiences diverse as astrologers, Forteans, Jungian analysts, and jurists. | |