New philosophy and old prejudices: Aspects of the reception of Copernicanism in a divided Europe
Abstract
The history of science tells us that a new philosophy of nature emerged gradually at the end of the Renaissance. It had new objects and new methods, and led to a general transformation of scientific life, notably as the rapid diffusion of texts took on greater importance. Throughout Europe, the philosophers and astronomers who were influenced by this movement fought against the same opponents and made the same methodological choices: they rejected Aristotelian physics and cosmology and they claimed the superiority of mathematical demonstration over Scholastic reasoning. Thus a kind of scientific community was formed, whose more active centres were situated in Germany and in Italy. But this change occurred when Europe was undergoing severe tensions and conflicts. The religious struggles exacerbated the old division between romanitas and germanitas; on both sides, the sense of belonging to a superior culture increased, so that the factors which were favorable to unity and those which strengthened dissension were somewhat confusedly mingled.
- Publication:
-
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
- Pub Date:
- 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0039-3681(98)00049-1
- Bibcode:
- 1999SHPSA..30..237P