1 / 22

Lecture 5 Scientific Method Case Study: Astronomy

Lecture 5 Scientific Method Case Study: Astronomy. Dr. Ann T. Orlando October 2, 2008. Outline. Ancient cosmology and physics Augustine’s cosmology Aquinas’ physics Galileo and the aftermath What did Augustine (and Church) really teach?. Aristotle and Greek Physics.

ashely-freeman
Télécharger la présentation

Lecture 5 Scientific Method Case Study: Astronomy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Lecture 5Scientific Method Case Study: Astronomy Dr. Ann T. Orlando October 2, 2008

  2. Outline • Ancient cosmology and physics • Augustine’s cosmology • Aquinas’ physics • Galileo and the aftermath • What did Augustine (and Church) really teach?

  3. Aristotle and Greek Physics • Aristotle (384-322 BC), wrote On Physics • Metaphysics was treatise after physics that considered non-material things • All physical things made of matter and form • All things through velocity seek their own level • Velocity defined as inversely proportional to density of medium through which a body travels • Vacuums cannot exist • World is eternal • Region above sun is unchanging • Observations of nature (empiricism) important to know how to categorize particulars

  4. Ptolemy (85-165 AD) Wrote Almagest Worked in Alexandria as part of Aristotelian school there Synthesized astronomical observations into mathematical computations Epicycles to describe notion about a stationary earth No vacuums Lunar light reflected from sun Very accurately predict eclipses of sun, moon, planets Also wrote Geography that included accurate estimate of earth’s diameter 13th C Manuscript http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/vatican.exhibit/exhibit/d-mathematics/Greek_astro.html Ptolemy and Greek Astronomy

  5. Augustine’s Physics • Understanding natural world important to Augustine • When does he begin to doubt Manichees? • Basically he accepts the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic world view of geography and astronomy • Knows the earth is round, lunar light is reflected from sun, planetary order and epicycles

  6. Significance of Physics in Augustine • Understanding Genesis • Cosmos not eternal but created ex nihilo • What is time • What is formless matter • What is relation between heavens and Heaven

  7. Aquinas and Physics • Wrote a commentary on Aristotle’s On Physics • For the most part accepted Aristotle-Ptolemy • Notable exception: definition of velocity as time rate of change of distance • Used Aristotle as primary philosophical tool in theology

  8. Excursus: Columbus (1451-1506) • Recall reading ST Ia Q1 • Did Europeans in general, or Church in particular, think the world was flat? • Why are we so often taught this now • No one tried to sail from Europe to China because did not have the technology

  9. Copernicus (1473-1543) • Assisted Vatican on revision of calendar • Published De Revolutionibus shortly before his death • Hypothesizes a heliocentric system

  10. Galileo (1564-1642) • Impact of Telescope • Becomes obvious that entities above the sun do change • Far more variety in celestial sphere than previously imagined • Mathematical simplicity of heliocentric system very appealing • Circular orbits • Note Galileo’s contributions to physics far beyond astronomy • Dynamics (pendula) • Motion (weight not relevant to speed at which a body falls, Tower of Pisa experiment) • But most of all using mathematics to describe laws of physics • Reaction against Aristotelianism

  11. St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) • Concerned about interpretation of Scripture, especially Joshua 10 • Heliocentric system okay to make math easier, draws distinction between easier math and reality • But also concerned that circular-orbit heliocentric system not as accurate as epicycles and geocentric system • And he was right

  12. Galileo vs Church • Conflict begins during Pope Paul V pontificate • Background of Reformation and Council of Trent • 1616 “Copernicanism” condemned, • De Revolutionibus placed on index • Galileo told not to teach it • 1623 Maffeo Barberini becomes Pope Urban VIII • Admirer of Galileo • 1632 Galileo publishes Diologue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican • Published with approval of censors in Rome and Florence • Made fun of Pope, who saw himself as Simplicio, defender of Ptolemy • 1633 Galileo brought before Inquisition • House arrest • Allowed to return to Florence after recanting

  13. Resolution of the Physics: Elliptical Orbits • By carefully analyzing data, Kepler concludes that orbits are elliptical • Mathematics of three laws of planetary motion • Description at http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html

  14. Enlightenment Mythology of Galileo • “Despite all its enlightenment about other matters, the eighteenth century was almost a golden age for the invention and diffusion of myths about Galileo’s trial.” – Finocchiaro, Retrying Galileo, 111 • Galileo held in prison • Galileo had his eyes gauged out • Galileo had to live on bread and water

  15. Situation Today: Benedict XVI and Sapienza • 20th and 21st Centuries no strangers to embellishing Galileo affair • Bertold Brecht, Galileo, expands on clash of faith and reason • Most recently the controversy around Pope Benedict XVI planned visit to Sapienza University in January 2008 • Physics faculty protest Pope’s visit because of reputed comments he made in 1992 about Galileo; ‘authoritative’ reference was a wikipedia article • Pope cancels visit • Rector of Sapienza eventually acknowledges criticism misdirected, and invites Pope to return

  16. Augustine, On Literal Interpretation of Genesis • Augustine wrote many works with Genesis as the focus • Confessions Books XI-XIII • Against the Manichees • Against Faustus • De Genesi ad litteram liber written between 399-415 • Understanding what Augustine meant by ‘literal’ meaning of Genesis • Exegesis that is not figurative of Christ (not typological) • May include symbolic understanding; e.g. days of creation • Twelve books, divided into three parts • Part 1: Books 1-5; days of creation • Part 2: Books 6-11; commentary on Genesis 2-3; expulsion form paradise • Part 3: Book 12; experiencing paradise (types of ecstasy) • Readings from Part 1 • 1.18.36-19.39 and 2.9.20-2.10.23 and 2.18.38

  17. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles • Relation between truth of observation and truth of faith very important • Aristotelian empiricism • SCG written to provide arguments against unbelievers, 1261-1264 • Written in four parts • Part I: Of God as He Is in Himself • Part II: Of God and Origin of Creatures • Part III: Of God the End of Creatures • Part IV: Of God in His Revelation • Read I.vii, “The Truth of Reason Is Not Contrary to Truth of Faith”

  18. Thomas AquinasSumma Theologiae Ia 68 a1 and a3 • Question 68 begins in a1 with the proper way to interpret Scripture according to Augustine • Does Aquinas go beyond Augustine in a3?

  19. Galileo and Bellarmine Letters in 1615 • Galileo, Letter to Grand Duchess Christina • Written to important patron, Grand Duchess Christina • Published more widely 1636 • Bellarmine, Letter to Rev. Foscarini • Rev. Foscarini was a Carmelite astronomer who was a friend and supporter of Galileo

  20. Voltaire," Preface” and “Authority” Philosophical Dictionary • Voltaire (1694-1778) • Leading light of French Enlightenment (philosophe) • Deist • Wrote extensively on history, physics, religion, art in many genres (poems, articles, treatises, plays) • Philosophical Dictionary • Published 1764 • Part of program of philsosphes to provide knowledge free from influences of superstition (religion) • Available at http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?pageno=24&fk_files=237218

  21. John Paul II:Address to Pontifical Academy of Sciences • Address given Oct 31, 1992 • Pope charged the Academy of Sciences with reevaluating the Galileo Affair • Similar address in 1996 on evolution, http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/01-97/creat2.html

  22. Assignment • Augustine, On Literal Interpretation of Genesis, 1.18.36-19.39 and 2.9.20-2.10.23 and 2.18.38 • Aquinas, SCG available at http://www2.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/etext/gc1_7.htm • Aquinas, Ia Q68 a1 and a3 • Galileo, Letter to Grand Duchess Christina, • Bellarmine, Letter to Rev. Foscarini, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.html • http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1615bellarmine-letter.html • Voltaire, “Authority,” Philosophical Dictionary, available at Project Guttenburg, www.gutenberg.org pp 1 and 24-25. • JPII, http://www.its.caltech.edu/~nmcenter/sci-cp/sci-9211.html • French, Italian and German versions available on Vatican website • How did Aquinas and Galileo use Augustine? How are preconceived prejudices at work in reactions from Voltaire to today?

More Related