Heaven and Earth in ancient Greek cosmology : from Thales to Heraclides Ponticus / Dirk L. Couprie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Couprie, Dirk L.

Series:

Astrophysics and space science library.

Astrophysics and space science library

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy, Greek.

Astronomy, Ancient.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (285 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2011.

Place of Publication:

New York : Springer, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In Miletus, about 550 B.C., together with our world-picture cosmology was born. This book tells the story. In Part One the reader is introduced in the archaic world-picture of a flat earth with the cupola of the celestial vault onto which the celestial bodies are attached. One of the subjects treated in that context is the riddle of the tilted celestial axis. This part also contains an extensive chapter on archaic astronomical instruments. Part Two shows how Anaximander (610-547 B.C.) blew up this archaic world-picture and replaced it by a new one that is essentially still ours. He taught that the celestial bodies orbit at different distances and that the earth floats unsupported in space. This makes him the founding father of cosmology. Part Three discusses topics that completed the new picture described by Anaximander. Special attention is paid to the confrontation between Anaxagoras and Aristotle on the question whether the earth is flat or spherical, and on the battle between Aristotle and Heraclides Ponticus on the question whether the universe is finite or infinite. “In this book, Dirk L. Couprie presents his efforts at clarifying the views of the pioneers of theoretical cosmology. It covers the crucial period from about the middle of the sixth until the middle of the fourth century B.C., with its focus on the magnificent figure of Anaximander. The book by Dirk Couprie constitutes an important and in several respects indispensable contribution to this field.” Dmitri Panchenko St. Petersburg State University.

Contents:

pt. 1. Archaic astronomy and the world-picture of a flat Earth

pt. 2. Anaximander and the discovery of space

pt. 3. The completion of the new world-picture and the debate on the shape of the Earth.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9786613088369

9781283088367

1283088363

9781441981165

1441981160

OCLC:

902401779