136-028 History of Astronomy

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Subject Description

This subject examines a dramatic change in European conceptions of the universe that took place during the 16th and 17th centuries. In the Middle Ages, humanity imagined the universe as finite and hierarchical, following an efficient computational cosmology developed by the ancient Greeks. In the 16th century the astronomer Copernicus proposed that the Sun was at the centre of the universe - while the Earth orbited the Sun as one of the planets. A few astronomers took his idea seriously, and eventually managed to convert those in their world to the Copernican theory. Questions central to this subject include: What made people change their view of the universe so drastically? Were there other reasons, perhaps religious or political, for accepting or opposing the new cosmology? Why did people care so greatly whether the Earth moved? Students should gain an understanding of the complexity of the reasons for a community's holding a particular scientific theory as opposed to another, and why such widespread changes in opinion occur.

Assessment

Written work totalling 2000 words, and a 2-hour examination. Exemption from the examination may be granted on the basis of further written work and/or a class test late in the semester.

Prescribed Texts

A subject reader will be available.

• T Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution.