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Nicole Oresme's De visione stellarum (On Seeing the Stars): A Critical Edition of Oresme's Treatise on Optics and Atmospheric Refraction, with an Introduction, Commentary, and English Translation
Nicole Oresme's De Visione Stellarum (on Seeing the Stars) A translation of "On Seeing the Stars", Nicole Oresme's 14th-century treatise on atmospheric refraction, in which Oresme uses optics and infinitesimals to help solve the problem of astronomy, while proposing that light travels along a curve through the atmosphere. Full description
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
8 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Oresme
29 books4 followersNicole Oresme (ou Nicolas Oresme) (vers 1320-1322-11 juillet 1382) est un philosophe, astronome, mathématicien, économiste, musicologue, physicien, traducteur et théologien de langue latine ayant étudié et vécu dans la France de l'époque médiévale. Il a été évêque de Lisieux et conseiller du roi Charles V le Sage.
Nicole Oresme (or Nicolas Oresme) (c. 1320–1325 – July 11, 1382) was a philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, economist, musicologist, physicist, translator and theologian and a translator. He was Bishop of Lisieux and a counselor of King Charles V of France.
Nicole Oresme (or Nicolas Oresme) (c. 1320–1325 – July 11, 1382) was a philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, economist, musicologist, physicist, translator and theologian and a translator. He was Bishop of Lisieux and a counselor of King Charles V of France.
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February 15, 2020
Yeah this was a great read on Astronomy of the time. I really liked it quite a lot. I would recommend this to anyone remotely interested in refraction or Astronomy. The translators mention Hooke and Newton constantly. And in the grand scheme of optical/geometrical/astronomical reads, this is ridiculously easier than reading Alhacen's Optics, Ptolemy's Almagest, or anything like those behemoths.
Unfortunately, because of a combination of not really liking the translation of it and not being able to find the seventh book, I did not read book VII of the Optics, which Oresme references constantly. I did read some very important sections of his Optics, which proves Oresme wrong when he says that all we see is 'light' and 'color'. (ie how can you explain seeing dimension or symmetry, there are many qualities in physical particles which are rendered through interpretation or placement). Another book referenced all the time is Witelo's Perspectiva Book X (no other book is referenced from Perspectiva). I have read Perspectivae Books I and V and yet there is no extant English translation for Book X. I do not have time to learn dead languages (I am already learning Set Theory and Topology) so I wish for this rather easy translation.
Anyway though, the book itself was remarkable. Another great read by a great mind in history.
Unfortunately, because of a combination of not really liking the translation of it and not being able to find the seventh book, I did not read book VII of the Optics, which Oresme references constantly. I did read some very important sections of his Optics, which proves Oresme wrong when he says that all we see is 'light' and 'color'. (ie how can you explain seeing dimension or symmetry, there are many qualities in physical particles which are rendered through interpretation or placement). Another book referenced all the time is Witelo's Perspectiva Book X (no other book is referenced from Perspectiva). I have read Perspectivae Books I and V and yet there is no extant English translation for Book X. I do not have time to learn dead languages (I am already learning Set Theory and Topology) so I wish for this rather easy translation.
Anyway though, the book itself was remarkable. Another great read by a great mind in history.
Displaying 1 of 1 review