Format:
Online-Ressource (XIII, 178 p. 28 illus, online resource)
ISBN:
9783319003009
Series Statement:
Astrophysics and Space Science Library 399
Content:
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
Note:
Description based upon print version of record
,
The World TheatreWatches 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.
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9783319002996
Additional Edition:
Erscheint auch als Druck-Ausgabe Buonanno, Roberto, 1947 - The stars of Galileo Galilei and the universal knowledge of Athanasius Kircher Heidelberg [u.a.] : Springer, 2014 ISBN 9783319002996
Language:
English
Subjects:
Physics
Keywords:
Galilei, Galileo 1564-1642
;
Kircher, Athanasius 1602-1680
;
Biografie
DOI:
10.1007/978-3-319-00300-9
URL:
Volltext
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