Theories of the World from Antiquity to the Copernican Revolution

by Michael J. Crowe

Newly revised edition of Professor Crowe's accessible, enlightening book re-creates the change from an earth-centered to a sun-centered conception of the solar system. The work is organized around a hypothetical debate: Given the evidence available in 1615, which system (Ptolemaic, Copernican, Tychonic, etc.) was most deserving of support?

Genres: Science, History, Stem, Philosophy, Nonfiction, History Of Science

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1990

Reviews

[Bernard English · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-organized. As the author says, it can be read with a focus on history, philosophy, or actual astronomy. I thought the appendix on archaeoastronomy was a bit too much (over 20 pages) for an introductory book, although the material on Stonehenge was interesting. The fascinating epilogue is a collection of quotations on astronomy in the Copernican Revolution period by contemporaries and later writers, including theologians, philosophers, poets, historians and scientist.

[Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The attempt to understand the heavens, historically, and why it was a problem of such interest, is one of the great stories. It reaches far back into at least Greek times. This book starts the discussion for the most part with Ptolemy's Amalgest. Some of the primary source materials in this book, may of interest. I will perhaps delve into these sometime this year. Recommended.