Copernicus and the Aristotelian Tradition: Education, Reading, and Philosophy in Copernicus's Path to Heliocentrism

André Goddu

BRILL, Jan 1, 2010 - Philosophy - 545 pages

Taking into account the most important results of the scholarly literature since 1973 and the best Polish scholarship of the past century, this is the first comprehensive study of Copernicus's achievement in English that examines Copernicus's path to heliocentrism from the perspective of late medieval philosophy, the Renaissance recovery of ancient literature and science, and early-modern editions of books that Copernicus used. The principal goals are to explain his commitment to the existence of celestial spheres, and the logical foundations for his views about hypotheses. In doing so, the work elucidates the logical and philosophical background that contributed to his accomplishments, and explains the limitations of his achievement. "Medieval and Early Modern Science," 12

Contents

• Chapter One Poland Toruń and Cracow in the Fifteenth: 5
• Chapter Two Masters and Students in the 1490s: 35
• Chapter Three The Teaching of Logic: 51
• Chapter Four Natural Philosophy: 89
• Chapter Five Humanism and Astronomy: 137
• Copernicuss Teachers at Cracow: 159
• Albert of Brudzewos Commentariolum: 162
• COPERNICUSS EDUCATION IN ITALY 14961503: 169
• Chapter Six Copernicus in Italy: 171
• Copernicuss Education in Canon and Civil Law: 173
• Copernicus and Novara: 187
• Copernicuss Study of Greek: 193
• Copernicus in Rome: 197
• Copernicuss Study of Medicine at Padua: 198
• Copernicuss Degree from Ferrara: 203
• Chapter Seven Copernicuss Reading and Progress towards his First Heliocentric Theory: 207
• Regiomontanuss Epitome: 215
• Bessarions In calumniatorem Platonis: 220
• Ficinos Translation of Platos Works: 225
• Plutarch PseudoPlutarch Aëtius and Giorgio Valla: 229
• Plinys Natural History and other Ancient Authorities: 237
• Achillini: 238
• Commentariolus: 243
• PART III: 250
• COPERNICUS AS PHILOSOPHER: 273
• Chapter Eight Copernicus as Logician: 275
• The Sources of Dialectical Topics 14901550: 279
• MereologyLogic and Ontology: 285
• Logic in the Commentariolus: 291
• The Use of Topics in the Preface of De revolutionibus: 292
• The Rhetorical Framework of Book I: 300
• The Use of Topics in Book I: 304
• Chapter Nine Copernicus as Natural Philosopher: 325
• Chapter Ten Copernicus as Mathematical Cosmologist: 361
• Conclusion and Epilogue: 387
• Bibliography: 495
• Indices: 525

About the author

Andr Goddu, Ph.D. (1979) in History, University of California at Los Angeles, is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stonehill College. He has published a monograph and several articles on late medieval philosophy and early modern astronomy, including "The Physics of William of Ockham" (Brill, 1984).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Copernicus and the Aristotelian Tradition: Education, Reading, and Philosophy in Copernicus's Path to Heliocentrism; History of Science and Medicine Library 15/Medieval and Early Modern Science 12; Volume 15 of History of science and medicine library / History of science and medicine library; Volume 12 of Medieval and early modern science / Medieval and early modern science
• Author: André Goddu
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: BRILL, 2010
• ISBN: 9004181075, 9789004181076
• Length: 545 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / General; Philosophy / History & Surveys / General