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
Erscheinungsjahr 2006
ISBN: 978-90-04-15370-7
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 7, 324 Seiten, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 246 mm, Gewicht: 739 g

Reihe: Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy and Science

In this critical edition and translation of Nicole Oresme’s On Seeing the Stars, the renowned 14th-century natural philosopher proposes that the stars are not where they seem. And perhaps nothing is where it seems. In this earliest treatise on atmospheric refraction, Oresme uses optics and infinitesimals to help solve this vexing problem of astronomy. He is the first to propose that light travels along a curve through the atmosphere – two centuries before Hooke and Newton, who are credited with the discovery. Further, he calls all sense data into doubt. Oresme’s argument concerning the curvature of light is a major milestone in the history of science, confirming that Oresme was one of the most innovative scientists of the pre-modern world.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Burton, Dan

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften, Formalen Wissenschaften & Technik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Wissenschafts- und Universitätsgeschichte
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Geschichte der Human- und Sozialwissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements

Part I. INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY
Chapter I. Introduction
Chapter II. Nicole Oresme’s Life and Works
Chapter III. The Writing of De visione stellarum: Author, Date, Titles, and Influence
Chapter IV. Overview and Commentary on Oresme’s De visione stellarum
Chapter V. Manuscripts
Chapter VI. Editorial Procedures
Chapter VII. Citation List of Authors Quoted or Alluded to in Oresme’s De visione stellarum

Part II. DE VISIONE STELLARUM: TEXT, TRANSLATION, AND CRITICAL APPARATUS
I. Latin Text with English Translation on Facing Pages
II. Notes

Part III. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDICES
I. Bibliography
II. Indices

Über Autor(innen)

Dan Burton, Ph.D. (2000) in History of Science, Indiana University, is Associate Professor of History at the University of North Alabama. He has recently co-authored Magic, Mystery and Science: The Occult in Western Civilization (2003).