Author Topic: Copernicus's view of shape of the Earth. (Read 946 times)

cassini · « **on:** May 26, 2025, 07:49:34 AM »

Just for the record:

‘The Earth is Spherical: The Earth is globe-shaped too, since on every side it rests upon its centre. But it is not perceived straightaway to be a perfect sphere, on account of the great heights of its mountains and the lowness of its valleys, thought they modify its universal roundness to only a very small extent. That is made clear in this way. For when people journey northwards from anywhere, the northern vortex of the axis of daily revolution gradually moves overhead and the other moves downward to the same extent; and many stars situated to the north are seen not to set, and many to the south are seen not to rise anymore….Moreover, the inclinations of the poles have everywhere the same ratio with places at equal distances from the poles of the Earth and that happens in no other figure except the spherical. Add to this the fact that the inhabitants of the East do not perceive the evening eclipse of the sun and moon; nor the inhabitants of the West, the morning eclipses; while those who live in the middle regions – some see them earlier and some later. Moreover, it is admitted that water, which by its nature flows, always seeks lower places – the same way as earth – and does not climb up the shore any further than the convexity of the shore allows.’--- De revolutionibus.

cassini · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2025, 01:27:45 PM »

Cardinal Bellarmine's

The Earth, certainly, is vastly great said Ecclus I. Who hath measured the breadth of the Earth and the depth of Hell. And its greatness may in some measure be hence conceived, that in the Flux of so many thousand Years from the Creation, the whole Surface (that the Wise Man calls the breadth) hath not yet been discovered to those who have made a diligent search after it; and I pray, what is the bulk of Earth, compared with the circuit of the highest Heaven? Astrologers make it (and with good reason) no more than a Point. For we see the rays of the Sun, notwithstanding the interposition of the Earth, so to influence the Stars of the Firmament, as if the Earth were nothing at all. And if every Star of the Firmament (as Wise Men generally allow) is greater than the whole Globe of Earth, and yet these Stars appear to us very small, by reason of the great distance, who can conceive the vast extent of Heaven, in which so many Stars do shine?

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2025, 03:29:12 PM »

While I don't know St. Robert's true views on the subject (have not studied him enough on the matter), could we PLEASE stop assuming that every single mention of a "globe of earth" refers to the NASA dirt ball?

In those cosmologies you had 3 basic areas: Heaven(s), Earthly Realm, Infernal Regions (Hell, the Deep etc.). Then in the Heavens they speak of 3.

Even in the FE cosmology there's a "globe of earth", where the entire earthly realm is shaped like a globe, that realm includes being encompassed by the firmament, and thus a globular shape.

Now it may be that NASA ball is what he means (though I rather doubt it since the notion of gravity had not yet been invented to explain how people and things would stick to the bottom of said globe), you can't assume it just from his expression, since you're reading into it your own present-day understanding of the term. Further study in context would be required.

Author Topic: Copernicus's view of shape of the Earth. (Read 946 times)

cassini

Copernicus's view of shape of the Earth.

cassini

Re: Copernicus's view of shape of the Earth.

Ladislaus

Re: Copernicus's view of shape of the Earth.