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Recent findings by historians of science focus on London at the turn of the seventeenth century as one of the most fascinating places to investigate the reception of the new astronomy propelled by the Copernican revolution and observational discoveries. However, literary critics and editors typically place Shakespeare's imagery within the geocentric model of the universe, firmly anchored in the medieval paradigm, denying any impact of the new models of cosmos on his ingenuity. Drawing on the cumulative argument derived from the history of astronomy and literary linguistic analysis, we argue that Shakespeare's references to the unsphered and disorbed planets and stars are better understood when viewed in the light of the disputes of the times, the decline of the concept of the celestial orbs in particular. The simplified and much overused dichotomy between geo-vs. heliocentrism does not give justice to the complex intellectual climate of the late sixteenth century and obscures the imaginative power of these references. Our essay foregrounds the influence and instability of the competing worldviews, the specificity of London astronomical inquires, and the consistency of Shakespeare's recurrent representations of cosmic disruptions.
Recent findings by historians of science focus on London at the turn of the seventeenth century as one of the most fascinating places to investigate the reception of the new astronomy propelled by the Copernican revolution and observational discoveries. However, literary critics and editors typically place Shakespeare's imagery within the geocentric model of the universe, firmly anchored in the medieval paradigm, denying any impact of the new models of cosmos on his ingenuity. Drawing on the cumulative argument derived from the history of astronomy and literary linguistic analysis, we argue that Shakespeare's references to the unsphered and disorbed planets and stars are better understood when viewed in the light of the disputes of the times, the decline of the concept of the celestial orbs in particular. The simplified and much overused dichotomy between geo-vs. heliocentrism does not give justice to the complex intellectual climate of the late sixteenth century and obscures the imaginative power of these references. Our essay foregrounds the influence and instability of the competing worldviews, the specificity of London astronomical inquires, and the consistency of Shakespeare's recurrent representations of cosmic disruptions.
substantiate his claim that Tycho's hypotheses are to be found in DR. Vol. xx/I of Kepler's Gesammelte Werke includes Volker Bialas's edition of the sixteen sheets of Kepler's notes relating to Ursus's then-recent publications, placed in the midst of miscellaneous chronological writings in vol. xx/i of the Kepler manuscripts of the Academy of Science, St Petersburg. Pp. 51Ov-513v of these notes, which form a separate gathering, have been shown to be an ad literam refutation of Ursus's Demonstratio:" Perhaps this first batch of notes was in preparation for a legal document, to accompany Johannes MUller's affidavited rebuttal of Ursus's claims in his Demonstratio about the presence of the geohe1iocentric system in Martianus Capella's De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii;" or maybe Kepler originally intended CU to address both of Ursus's anti-Tychonic publications.The remaining notes all relate to Ursus's DAH. They fall into four fairly distinct groups. From 514r to halfway through 518v is largely devoted to Ursus's reading of geoheliocentric doctrine into passages from DR. In the preface to DAH, Ursus appeals to Tycho's correspondence with Christoph Rothmann (Mathematician to Landgraf Wilhelm IV of Hesse-Kassel), published in EA, to support his claim that Rothmann and Tycho had stolen their geoheliocentric hypotheses from him. The next group of notes, ending with 512r, counters this allegation, largely by direct quotation from Tycho's exchanges with Rothmann on the subject of astronomical hypotheses. 521v to 523v contains notes relating directly to the main text of DAH, and in particular to Ursus's assertions about the nature of astronomical hypotheses. Finally, 524r to 525r offers miscellaneous and often cryptic observations, mainly on passages from Proclus, Pliny, Vitruvius and Macrobius, all of them relevant directly or indirectly to the history of astronomy.A terminus a quo for these notes is set by Ursus's death in August 1600; for, as we shall see, one of the notes alludes obliquely to Ursus as deceased. Further, many of these notes are elaborated in CU, from which it is clear that they were written before that work, not after it as has been suggested. 12 Two of the last group of notes combine handwriting of Kepler with that of Johannes MUller, who served as Tycho's assistant from March 1600 to May 1601 at Benatky Castle, near Prague. MUller had earlier produced the fair copy of Kepler's" judgement concerning the dispute ..." and, as noted above, a formal refutation of Ursus Demonstratio. It seems probable, therefore, that Kepler, on entering Tycho's service in October 1600, and after a brief period of collaboration with MUller, took on sole responsibility for defending Tycho's claims to originality against Ursus's counterclaims.Before discussing the wider significances of the four groups of notes, let us present them. They are highly condensed. In the hope of rendering them comprehensible, we have occasionally expanded the translation (in square brackets), as well as interpolating substantial commentaries (i...
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