Final answer:
Augustine accepted astrologers because he believed they provide a more scientific explanation of the world, considering astrology a legitimate science tied to natural observations and the prediction of events. His theological work emphasized human freedom and the role of divine grace, despite the original sin and the existence of evil as part of God's plan.
Step-by-step explanation:
Augustine's acceptance of astrologers is primarily linked to his belief that they provide a more scientific explanation of the world. While his views did evolve over time, it is clear from historical texts that Augustine considered astrology to be a legitimate form of natural science, echoing ancient understandings of astrology as concerned with the prediction of events through observations of the heavens. This is reflected in his contemplations on the works of influential figures such as Ptolemy who, as a mathematician, developed complex systems for predicting planetary positions and informed the way the cosmos was understood in both the Muslim world and Christian Europe.Augustine, as Bishop of Hippo, was also deeply involved in theological disputes, defending the orthodoxy against heresies like Pelagianism and Manicheanism which offered alternative views of predestination and free will. He argued for the presence of human freedom in the midst of divine foreknowledge, framing the human condition as a struggle between the will towards good and the propensity for sin, which ultimately necessitated divine grace for resolution. Despite the allure of astrologers' emphasis on fate and destiny, Augustine's writings emphasize the intrinsic goodness of God's creation and the possibility of human agency within a providentially ordered universe.