Viewed as a flashpoint of the Scientific Revolution, early modern astronomy witnessed a virtual explosion of ideas about the nature and structure of the world. This study explores these theories in a variety of intellectual settings, challenging our view of modern science as a straightforward successor to Aristotelian natural philosophy. It shows how astronomers dealt with celestial novelties by deploying old ideas in new ways and identifying more subtle notions of cosmic rationality. Beginning with the celestial spheres of Peurbach and ending with the evolutionary implications of the new star Mira Ceti, it surveys a pivotal phase in our understanding of the universe as a place of constant change that confirmed deeper patterns of cosmic order and stability.
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN EARLY MODERN COSMOLOGY
Archimedes NEW STUDIES IN THE HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VOLUME 27
EDITOR J ED Z. B UCHWALD, Dreyfuss Professor of History, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS FOR MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES J EREMY G RAY, The Faculty of Mathematics and Computing, The Open University, Buckinghamshire, UK. T ILMAN S AUER, California Institute of Technology
ASSOCIATE EDITORS FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES S HARON K INGSLAND, Department of History of Science and Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. M ANFRED L AUBICHLER, Arizona State University
ADVISORY BOARD FOR MATHEMATICS, PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY H ENK B OS, University of Utrecht M ORDECHAI F EINGOLD, California Institute of Technology A LLAN D. F RANKLIN , University of Colorado at Boulder KOSTAS G AVROGLU, National Technical University of Athens PAUL H OYNINGEN -H UENE, Leibniz University in Hannover T REVOR L EVERE, University of Toronto J ESPER L ÜTZEN, Copenhagen University W ILLIAM N EWMAN, Indian University, Bloomington L AWRENCE P RINCIPE, The Johns Hopkins University J ÜRGEN R ENN , Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte A LEX ROLAND, Duke University A LAN S HAPIRO, University of Minnesota N OEL S WERDLOW, California Institute of Technology, USA
ADVISORY BOARD FOR BIOLOGY M ICHAEL D IETRICH, Dartmouth College, USA M ICHEL M ORANGE, Centre Cavaillès, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris H ANS -J ÖRG R HEINBERGER, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin NANCY S IRAISI, Hunter College of the City University of New York Archimedes has three fundamental goals; to further the integration of the histories of science and technology with one another: to investigate the technical, social and practical histories of specific developments in science and technology; and finally, where possible and desirable, to bring the histories of science and technology into closer contact with the philosophy of science. To these ends, each volume will have its own theme and title and will be planned by one or more members of the Advisory Board in consultation with the editor. Although the volumes have specific themes, the series itself will not be limited to one or even to a few particular areas. Its subjects include any of the sciences, ranging from biology through physics, all aspects of technology, broadly construed, as well as historically-engaged philosophy of science or technology. Taken as a whole, Archimedes will be of interest to historians, philosophers, and scientists, as well as to those in business and industry who seek to understand how science and industry have come to be so strongly linked. For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/5644
Patrick J. Boner Editor
Change and Continuity in Early Modern Cosmology
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Editor Patrick J. Boner Department of the History of Science and Technology Johns Hopkins University 3400 North Charles Street 21218 Baltimore USA