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The stars of Galileo Galilei and the universal knowledge of Athanasius Kircher Roberto Buonanno ; translation by Roberto Buonanno and Giuliana Giobbi
Springer Nature - Springer Physics and Astronomy (R0) eBooks 2014 English International Available online
View online- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Buonanno, Roberto, author, translator.
- Series:
- Astrophysics and space science library ; 0067-0057 v. 399
- Astrophysics and Space Science Library 0067-0057 volume 399
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680.
- Kircher, Athanasius.
- Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642.
- Galilei, Galileo.
- Science--History.
- Science.
- Astronomy--History.
- Astronomy.
- Religion and science--Italy--History--17th century.
- Religion and science.
- Italy.
- Genre:
- History
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource
- Place of Publication:
- Cham Springer 2014
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- In this fascinating book, the author traces the careers, ideas, discoveries, and inventions of two renowned scientists, Athanasius Kircher and Galileo Galilei, one a Jesuit, the other a sincere man of faith whose relations with the Jesuits deteriorated badly. The Author documents Kircher's often intuitive work in many areas, including translating the hieroglyphs, developing sundials, and inventing the magic lantern, and explains how Kircher was a forerunner of Darwin in suggesting that animal species evolve. Galileo's work on scales, telescopes, and sun spots is mapped and discussed, and care is taken to place his discoveries within their cultural environment. While Galileo is without doubt the "winner" in the comparison with Kircher, the latter achieved extraordinary insights by unconventional means. For all Galileo's fine work, the author believes that scientists do need to regain the power of dreaming, vindicating Kirchner's view
- Contents:
- The World Theatre
- Watches and sunflowers rotating upon a motionless Earth
- Jesuits, scales and telescopes
- Light and shadows
- Spots upon an unchangeable Sun
- The Deluge
- Hieroglyphs and the dream of Universal Wisdom
- Crystal Skies and the circles of Hell
- Conclusion
- Galileo Galilei and Athanasius Kircher: parallel lives
- Notes:
- Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed February 3, 2014)
- Other Format:
- Printed edition:
- ISBN:
- 9783319003009
- 3319003003
- 3319002996
- 9783319002996
- 1306700736
- 9781306700733
- OCLC:
- 870269266
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license
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