Cosmology in the Early Modern Age: A Web of Ideas

Description

This volume addresses the history and epistemology of early modern cosmology. The authors reconstruct the development of cosmological ideas in the age of ‘scientific revolution’ from Copernicus to Leibniz, taking into account the growth of a unified celestial-and-terrestrial mechanics. The volume investigates how, in the rise of the new science, cosmology displayed deep and multifaceted interrelations between scientific notions (stemming from mechanics, mathematics, geometry, astronomy) and philosophical concepts. These were employed to frame a general picture of the universe, as well as to criticize and interpret scientific notions and observational data. This interdisciplinary work reconstructs a conceptual web pervaded by various intellectual attitudes and drives. It presents an historical–epistemological unified itinerary which includes Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Descartes, Huygens, Newton and Leibniz. For each of the scientists and philosophers, a presentation and commentary is made of their cosmological views, and where relevant, outlines of their most relevant physical concepts are given. Furthermore, the authors highlight the philosophical and epistemological implications of their scientific works. This work is helpful both as a synthetic overview of early modern cosmology, and an analytical exposition of the elements that were intertwined in early-modern cosmology. This book addresses historians, philosophers, and scientists and can also be used as a research source book by post-graduate students in epistemology, history of science and history of philosophy. Preface Introduction References Contents List of Figures 1 The Elements of a Cosmological Model References 2 Copernicus’ Astronomical Revolution 2.1 De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium: A Text that Changed the Image of the Universe 2.1.1 Copernicus’ System of the World 2.1.2 Copernicus’ Theory of Planetary Motions 2.2 Epistemological and Philosophical Implications of Copernicus’ Thought References 3 Kepler: The Cosmographer Par Excellence 3.1 Kepler and the Unity of Science: His Attempt to Unify All the Aspects of Cosmology 3.1.1 The Structure of the World in Mysterium Cosmographicum 3.1.2 Kinematical Aspects of Kepler’s Cosmology in Connection with His Dynamical Ideas 3.1.3 Kepler’s Concept of Force 3.1.4 Virtus Motrix and Light in Kepler’s Theory: A Comparison 3.2 Kepler: The Role of the A Priori and the A Posteriori in the Making of Science References 4 Galileo and the Spread of the Copernican System 4.1 Galileo’s Contributions to Cosmology 4.1.1 Discoveries in the Sidereus Nuncius, Sunspots, Phases of Venus 4.1.2 Galileo’s Tides Theory 4.1.3 Galileo’s Concept of Inertia 4.2 Galileo’s Epistemological and Philosophical Ideas References 5 Descartes and the New Mechanistic Paradigm 5.1 Descartes: A Mechanical Model of Universe Devised Without Mathematics 5.1.1 Fundamental Principles of Descartes’ Physics 5.1.2 The Structure of Descartes’ Universe 5.1.3 Commentaries 5.2 Philosophical Issues of Descartes’ Cosmology References 6 Huygens: The Greatest Cartesian Scientist 6.1 Huygens’ New Physics: Centrifugal Forces, Gravity, Nature of Motion 6.1.1 De Vi Centrifuga 6.1.2 Gravity and Centrifugal Forces 6.1.3 Inertia and the Nature of Motion 6.2 Epistemological and Philosophical Implications of Huygens’ Physics 6.2.1 The Philosophy of the Treatise of Light 6.2.2 An Overview of the Structure of Huygens’ Cosmos 6.2.3 The Cosmotheoros: The Place of Man and Earth in Huygens’ Cosmos References 7 Newton and His System of the World 7.1 The Successful Synthesis of Newton’s Dynamics 7.1.1 Newton’s Concept of Force and Mass 7.1.2 The Problem of Inertia 7.1.3 Newton’s Experimental Philosophy and the Deduction of the Law of Universal Gravitation 7.2 Newton’s Idea of the Universe References 8 Leibniz: The Philosopher-Scientist 8.1 Leibniz’s Cosmological Ideas 8.1.1 Mechanism and Gravity 8.1.2 Beyond Mechanism: The Concept of Vis 8.1.3 Leibniz’s Model of the Solar System 8.2 The Attempt to Unify Mathematics, Metaphysics and Science in Leibniz’s Cosmology References Conclusion Bibliography Index of Names