The stars of Galileo Galilei and the universal knowledge of Athanasius Kircher [electronic resource] / Roberto Buonanno ; translation by Roberto Buonanno and Giuliana Giobbi.
2014
Q125.2
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Title
The stars of Galileo Galilei and the universal knowledge of Athanasius Kircher [electronic resource] / Roberto Buonanno ; translation by Roberto Buonanno and Giuliana Giobbi.
ISBN
9783319003009 electronic book
3319003003 electronic book
9783319002996
3319003003 electronic book
9783319002996
Published
Cham : Springer, 2014.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource (xiii, 178 pages) : illustrations.
Item Number
10.1007/978-3-319-00300-9 doi
Call Number
Q125.2
Dewey Decimal Classification
509
Summary
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.
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Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description
Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed February 3, 2014).
Added Author
Giobbi, Giuliana, translator.
Series
Astrophysics and space science library ; v.399. 0067-0057
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Table of Contents
The World Theatre
Watches 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.
Watches 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.