Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
This book offers a groundbreaking exploration of Galileo Galilei�s engagement with the Almagest, Claudius Ptolemy�s second-century scientific work on the motions of stars and planetary paths. Contrary to the belief that Galileo had little interest in Ptolemaic astronomy, the author investigates whether Ptolemy influenced Galileo�s shift to Copernicanism, the theory that Earth and all other planets revolve around the Sun. This inquiry is pursued through a detailed examination of Galileo�s early writings on motion, namely the so-called De motu antiquiora (c. 1589�1592). By contextualizing Galileo�s initial reception of Ptolemy, the book reveals a fascinating historical backdrop, highlighting how the Almagest was intended to be read and studied in Galileo�s milieu during the last decades of the sixteenth century. The author challenges the conventional �Ptolemaic-Aristotelian� label by showing that early Galileo adhered to a Ptolemaic, yet non-Aristotelian, cosmology supported by an Archimedean-like rationale. Additionally, the book underscores the often-overlooked impact of Theon of Alexandria�s commentary on the Almagest in the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century reception of Ptolemy, suggesting it as one of Galileo�s potential sources. Offering valuable insights for historians of science and early modern astronomy, this book illuminates Galileo�s intricate relationship with astronomical and philosophical ideas, emphasizing the need to re-examine his intellectual journey within a nuanced historical framework.
This book offers a groundbreaking exploration of Galileo Galilei�s engagement with the Almagest, Claudius Ptolemy�s second-century scientific work on the motions of stars and planetary paths. Contrary to the belief that Galileo had little interest in Ptolemaic astronomy, the author investigates whether Ptolemy influenced Galileo�s shift to Copernicanism, the theory that Earth and all other planets revolve around the Sun. This inquiry is pursued through a detailed examination of Galileo�s early writings on motion, namely the so-called De motu antiquiora (c. 1589�1592). By contextualizing Galileo�s initial reception of Ptolemy, the book reveals a fascinating historical backdrop, highlighting how the Almagest was intended to be read and studied in Galileo�s milieu during the last decades of the sixteenth century. The author challenges the conventional �Ptolemaic-Aristotelian� label by showing that early Galileo adhered to a Ptolemaic, yet non-Aristotelian, cosmology supported by an Archimedean-like rationale. Additionally, the book underscores the often-overlooked impact of Theon of Alexandria�s commentary on the Almagest in the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century reception of Ptolemy, suggesting it as one of Galileo�s potential sources. Offering valuable insights for historians of science and early modern astronomy, this book illuminates Galileo�s intricate relationship with astronomical and philosophical ideas, emphasizing the need to re-examine his intellectual journey within a nuanced historical framework.