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The History of Arabic Sciences: a Selected Bibliography
THE HISTORY OF ARABIC SCIENCES: A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Mohamed ABATTOUY Fez University Max Planck Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin A first version of this bibliography was presented to the Group Frühe Neuzeit (Max Planck Institute for History of Science, Berlin) in April 1996. I revised and expanded it during a stay of research in MPIWG during the summer 1996 and in Fez (november 1996). During the Workshop Experience and Knowledge Structures in Arabic and Latin Sciences, held in the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin on December 16-17, 1996, a limited number of copies of the present Bibliography was already distributed. Finally, I express my gratitude to Paul Weinig (Berlin) for valuable advice and for proofreading. PREFACE The principal sources for the history of Arabic and Islamic sciences are of course original works written mainly in Arabic between the VIIIth and the XVIth centuries, for the most part. A great part of this scientific material is still in original manuscripts, but many texts had been edited since the XIXth century, and in many cases translated to European languages. In the case of sciences as astronomy and mechanics, instruments and mechanical devices still extant and preserved in museums throughout the world bring important informations. A total of several thousands of mathematical, astronomical, physical, alchemical, biologico-medical manuscripts survived. They are written mainly in Arabic, but some are in Persian and Turkish. The main libraries in which they are preserved are those in the Arabic World: Cairo, Damascus, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat ... as well as in private collections. Beside this material in the Arabic countries, the Deutsche Staatsbibliothek in Berlin, the Biblioteca del Escorial near Madrid, the British Museum and the Bodleian Library in England, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Süleymaniye and Topkapi Libraries in Istanbul, the National Libraries in Iran, India, Pakistan.. -
The Persian-Toledan Astronomical Connection and the European Renaissance
Academia Europaea 19th Annual Conference in cooperation with: Sociedad Estatal de Conmemoraciones Culturales, Ministerio de Cultura (Spain) “The Dialogue of Three Cultures and our European Heritage” (Toledo Crucible of the Culture and the Dawn of the Renaissance) 2 - 5 September 2007, Toledo, Spain Chair, Organizing Committee: Prof. Manuel G. Velarde The Persian-Toledan Astronomical Connection and the European Renaissance M. Heydari-Malayeri Paris Observatory Summary This paper aims at presenting a brief overview of astronomical exchanges between the Eastern and Western parts of the Islamic world from the 8th to 14th century. These cultural interactions were in fact vaster involving Persian, Indian, Greek, and Chinese traditions. I will particularly focus on some interesting relations between the Persian astronomical heritage and the Andalusian (Spanish) achievements in that period. After a brief introduction dealing mainly with a couple of terminological remarks, I will present a glimpse of the historical context in which Muslim science developed. In Section 3, the origins of Muslim astronomy will be briefly examined. Section 4 will be concerned with Khwârizmi, the Persian astronomer/mathematician who wrote the first major astronomical work in the Muslim world. His influence on later Andalusian astronomy will be looked into in Section 5. Andalusian astronomy flourished in the 11th century, as will be studied in Section 6. Among its major achievements were the Toledan Tables and the Alfonsine Tables, which will be presented in Section 7. The Tables had a major position in European astronomy until the advent of Copernicus in the 16th century. Since Ptolemy’s models were not satisfactory, Muslim astronomers tried to improve them, as we will see in Section 8. -
Nicolaus Copernicus: the Loss of Centrality
I Nicolaus Copernicus: The Loss of Centrality The mathematician who studies the motions of the stars is surely like a blind man who, with only a staff to guide him, must make a great, endless, hazardous journey that winds through innumerable desolate places. [Rheticus, Narratio Prima (1540), 163] 1 Ptolemy and Copernicus The German playwright Bertold Brecht wrote his play Life of Galileo in exile in 1938–9. It was first performed in Zurich in 1943. In Brecht’s play two worldviews collide. There is the geocentric worldview, which holds that the Earth is at the center of a closed universe. Among its many proponents were Aristotle (384–322 BC), Ptolemy (AD 85–165), and Martin Luther (1483–1546). Opposed to geocentrism is the heliocentric worldview. Heliocentrism teaches that the sun occupies the center of an open universe. Among its many proponents were Copernicus (1473–1543), Kepler (1571–1630), Galileo (1564–1642), and Newton (1643–1727). In Act One the Italian mathematician and physicist Galileo Galilei shows his assistant Andrea a model of the Ptolemaic system. In the middle sits the Earth, sur- rounded by eight rings. The rings represent the crystal spheres, which carry the planets and the fixed stars. Galileo scowls at this model. “Yes, walls and spheres and immobility,” he complains. “For two thousand years people have believed that the sun and all the stars of heaven rotate around mankind.” And everybody believed that “they were sitting motionless inside this crystal sphere.” The Earth was motionless, everything else rotated around it. “But now we are breaking out of it,” Galileo assures his assistant. -
The Planetary Increase of Brightness During Retrograde Motion: an Explanandum Constructed Ad Explanantem
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 54 (2015) 90e101 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Studies in History and Philosophy of Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/shpsa The planetary increase of brightness during retrograde motion: An explanandum constructed ad explanantem Christián Carlos Carman National University of Quilmes/CONICET, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, B1876BXD Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina article info abstract Article history: In Ancient Greek two models were proposed for explaining the planetary motion: the homocentric Received 5 May 2015 spheres of Eudoxus and the Epicycle and Deferent System. At least in a qualitative way, both models Received in revised form could explain the retrograde motion, the most challenging phenomenon to be explained using circular 17 September 2015 motions. Nevertheless, there is another explanandum: during retrograde motion the planets increase their brightness. It is natural to interpret a change of brightness, i.e., of apparent size, as a change in Keywords: distance. Now, while according to the Eudoxian model the planet is always equidistant from the earth, Epicycle; according to the epicycle and deferent system, the planet changes its distance from the earth, Deferent; fi Homocentric spheres; approaching to it during retrograde motion, just as observed. So, it is usually af rmed that the main ’ Brightness change reason for the rejection of Eudoxus homocentric spheres in favor of the epicycle and deferent system was that the first cannot explain the manifest planetary increase of brightness during retrograde motion, while the second can. In this paper I will show that this historical hypothesis is not as firmly founded as it is usually believed to be. -
“Point at Infinity Hape of the World
“Point at Infinity hape of the World Last week, we began a series of posts dedicated to thinking about immortality. If we want to even pretend to think precisely about immortality, we will have to consider some fundamental questions. What does it mean to be immortal? What does it mean to live forever? Are these the same thing? And since immortality is inextricably tied up in one’s relationship with time, we must think about the nature of time itself. Is there a difference between external time and personal time? What is the shape of time? Is time linear? Circular? Finite? Infinite? Of course, we exist not just across time but across space as well, so the same questions become relevant when asked about space. What is the shape of space? Is it finite? Infinite? It is not hard to see how this question would have a significant bearing on our thinking about immortality. In a finite universe (or, more precisely, a universe in which only finitely many different configurations of maer are possible), an immortal being would encounter the same situations over and over again, would think the same thoughts over and over again, would have the same conversations over and over again. Would such a life be desirable? (It is not clear that this repetition would be avoidable even in an infinite universe, but more on that later.) Today, we are going to take a lile historical detour to look at the shape of the universe, a trip that will take us from Ptolemy to Dante to Einstein, a trip that will uncover a remarkable confluence of poetry and physics. -
The Arithmetic of the Spheres
The Arithmetic of the Spheres Je↵ Lagarias, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA MAA Mathfest (Washington, D. C.) August 6, 2015 Topics Covered Part 1. The Harmony of the Spheres • Part 2. Lester Ford and Ford Circles • Part 3. The Farey Tree and Minkowski ?-Function • Part 4. Farey Fractions • Part 5. Products of Farey Fractions • 1 Part I. The Harmony of the Spheres Pythagoras (c. 570–c. 495 BCE) To Pythagoras and followers is attributed: pitch of note of • vibrating string related to length and tension of string producing the tone. Small integer ratios give pleasing harmonics. Pythagoras or his mentor Thales had the idea to explain • phenomena by mathematical relationships. “All is number.” A fly in the ointment: Irrational numbers, for example p2. • 2 Harmony of the Spheres-2 Q. “Why did the Gods create us?” • A. “To study the heavens.”. Celestial Sphere: The universe is spherical: Celestial • spheres. There are concentric spheres of objects in the sky; some move, some do not. Harmony of the Spheres. Each planet emits its own unique • (musical) tone based on the period of its orbital revolution. Also: These tones, imperceptible to our hearing, a↵ect the quality of life on earth. 3 Democritus (c. 460–c. 370 BCE) Democritus was a pre-Socratic philosopher, some say a disciple of Leucippus. Born in Abdera, Thrace. Everything consists of moving atoms. These are geometrically• indivisible and indestructible. Between lies empty space: the void. • Evidence for the void: Irreversible decay of things over a long time,• things get mixed up. (But other processes purify things!) “By convention hot, by convention cold, but in reality atoms and• void, and also in reality we know nothing, since the truth is at bottom.” Summary: everything is a dynamical system! • 4 Democritus-2 The earth is round (spherical). -
A Rebuttal of Recent Arguments for Maragha Influence on Copernicus
Discussions, polemics, letters to the Editor Viktor Blåsjö ORCID 0000-0001-8494-4567 Mathematical Institute, Utrecht University (Utrecht, The Netherlands) [email protected] A rebuttal of recent arguments for Maragha influence on Copernicus Abstract I reply to recent arguments by Peter Barker & Tofigh Heidarza- deh, Arun Bala, and F. Jamil Ragep claiming that certain aspects Copernicus’s astronomical models where influenced by late Is- lamic authors connected with the Maragha school. In particular, I argue that: the deleted passage in De revolutionibus that alleged- ly references unspecified previous authors on the Tusi couple actually refers to a simple harmonic motion, and not the Tusi couple; the arguments based on lettering and other conventions used in Copernicus’s figure for the Tusi couple have no eviden- tiary merit whatever; alleged indications that Nicole Oresme was aware of the Tusi couple are much more naturally explained on other grounds; plausibility considerations regarding the status of PUBLICATION e-ISSN 2543-702X INFO ISSN 2451-3202 DIAMOND OPEN ACCESS CITATION Blåsjö, Viktor 2018: A rebuttal of recent arguments for Maragha influence on Copernicus.Studia Historiae Scientiarum 17, pp. 479–497. Available online: https://doi.org/10.4467/2543702XSHS.18.017.9337. ARCHIVE RECEIVED: 8.04.2018 LICENSE POLICY ACCEPTED: 16.07.2018 Green SHERPA / PUBLISHED ONLINE: 12.12.2018 RoMEO Colour WWW http://www.ejournals.eu/sj/index.php/SHS/; http://pau.krakow.pl/Studia-Historiae-Scientiarum/ Viktor Blåsjö A rebuttal of recent arguments for Maragha influence on Copernicus Arabic astronomy and norms regarding novelty claims weight against the influence thesis, not for it. -
Astronomical & Astrophysical Transactions
This article was downloaded by:[Bochkarev, N.] On: 7 December 2007 Access Details: [subscription number 746126554] Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Astronomical & Astrophysical Transactions The Journal of the Eurasian Astronomical Society Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713453505 Comparison and historical evolution of ancient Greek cosmological ideas and mathematical models Antonios D. Pinotsis a a Section of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics, Department of Physics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Online Publication Date: 01 December 2005 To cite this Article: Pinotsis, Antonios D. (2005) 'Comparison and historical evolution of ancient Greek cosmological ideas and mathematical models', Astronomical & Astrophysical Transactions, 24:6, 463 - 483 To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/10556790600603859 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10556790600603859 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. -
Lecture 2: Course Overview Introduction to the Solar System
Lecture 2: Course Overview Introduction to the Solar System AST2003 Section 6218 - Spring 2012 Instructor: Professor Stanley F. Dermott Office: 216 Bryant Space Science Center Phone: 352 294 1864 email [email protected] Lecture time and place: Tuesdays (4th period: 10:40 am – 11:30 am) Thursdays (4th and 5th period) (10:40 am – 12:35 pm), FLG 210 Office hours: Tuesdays 11:45 – 12:45 pm, Thursdays 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm or by appointment Teacher Assistant: Dr Naibi Marinas (Help with Mastering Astronomy and Exam Reviews) Office: 312 Bryant Space Science Center Phone: 325 294 1848 Email: [email protected]!! Class Website: http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~marinas/astro/AST2003.html A bit about myself Russian Translation Worked with Carl Sagan while at Cornell Carl Sagan: Author and presenter of COSMOS Two papers in Nature Radar images of hydrocarbon lakes on Titan taken by Cassini spacecraft This movie, comprised of several detailed images taken by Cassini's radar instrument, shows bodies of liquid near Titan's north pole. Biggest Discovery! Published in Nature in 1994 © 1994 Nature Publishing Group © 1994 Nature Publishing Group © 1994 Nature Publishing Group Last sentence in the paper © 1994 Nature Publishing Group Structure in Debris Disks Structure in Debris DebrisDisks disks imply >km planetesimals around Debris disks imply >km main sequence stars, but planetesimals around also evidence for planets: main sequence stars, but •! inner regions are empty, also evidence for planets: probably cleared by planet formation •! inner regions are empty, -
December 2018
Page 1 Monthly Newsletter of the Durban Centre - December 2018 Page 2 Table Of Contents Chairman’s Chatter …...…………………….…...….………....….….… 3 The Superman Star ……………………………...…....…….………….. 4 At The Eyepiece ……………...……….…………………….….….….... 8 The Cover Image - Pleaides ………………...….........………….…... 10 Comet Tails ……….…...…………...……..……….……..………….… 11 Islamic Astronomy …………..………...……..………….....……….… 13 An Old Star ……………………………………………..………………. 21 The Month Ahead ………………………………………..…….………. 23 Minutes Of The Previous Meeting ……………...……………………. 24 Public Viewing Roster …………………………….………...…...……. 25 Members Moments …………………………………….……………… 26 Pre-loved Astronomical Equipment ....…………...….…….........…… 28 Year-End Party …………………………………………………………. 29 Angus Burns - Newcastle, KZN Member Submissions Disclaimer: The views expressed in ‘nDaba are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily the views of the Durban Centre, nor the Editor. All images and content is the work of the respective copyright owner Page 3 Chairman’s Chatter By Piet Strauss Dear members, The Winterton Star Party on Saturday 4 November was well attended by some 50 people from the Winterton area and a group of our Durban members. Some photos are contained elsewhere in this nDaba. The day time “Wagtail” event on 10 November was unfortunately not well supported. Dr Moumita Aich, a Research Scientist working on Cosmology at UKZN gave a very interesting presentation on Planets, near and far. If you were not at the meeting, you certainly missed out on an informative presentation. Our next meeting is the annual Year end Dinner; more details are contained at the end of the nDaba. Good news is that our batch of “Sky Guides” have arrived and you will be able to collect yours at the meeting. If you have not yet ordered or paid, talk to Debbie. Remember to dress “Astronomical” and bring some cash with you and enjoy a fun evening. -
Binomial Coefficients and Nasir Al-Din Al-Tusi
Scientific Research and Essay Vol. 1 (2), pp. 028 -032, November 2006 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE ISSN 1992-2248 © 2006 Academic Journals Perspective Binomial coefficients and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi Othman Echi Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Department of Mathematics, University Tunis-El Manar"Campus Universitaire", 2092,Tunis, TUNISIA. E-mail: [email protected],[email protected]. Accepted 3 November, 2006 A historical note is given about the scientist Nasir al-Din al-Tusi legitimating the introduction of a new concept related to binomial coefficients. Al-Tusi binomial coefficients and binomial formulas are introduced and studied. Key words: Binomial coefficients, binomial theorem, history of Mathematics. INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL NOTE AND NOTATIONS Al-Tusi has wrote important works on Astronomy, logic, Mathematics and Philosophy. The first of these works, Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan ``Akhlaq-i nasiri", was written in 1232; it was a work on Nasir al-Din al-Tusi was born in Tus, Khurasan (now, ethics which al-Tusi dedicated to the Isma'ili ruler Nasir Iran) in 17 February 1201 and died in Baghdad 25 June ad-Din Abd ar-Rahim. Al-Tusi was kidnaped by the 1274. Al-Tusi was one of the greatest scientists, mathe- Isma'ili Hasan Bin Sabah's agents and sent to Alamut maticians, astronomers, philosophers, theologians and where he remained until its capture by the Mongol physicians of his time. Al-Tusi was an Arabic scholar Halagu Khan. Impressed by Al-Tusi's exceptional abilities whose writings became the standard texts in several and astrological competency, Ilkhanid Halagu Khan disciplines for several centuries. -
Commentariolus Text
Commentariolus by Copernicus From the Nicolaus Copernicus Thorunensis website Our predecessors assumed, I observe, a large number of celestial spheres mainly for the purpose of explaining the planets' apparent motion by the principle of uniformity. For they thought it altogether absurd that a heavenly body, which is perfectly spherical, should not always move uniformly. By connecting and combining uniform motions in various ways, they had seen, they could make any body appear to move to any position. Callippus and Eudoxus, who tried to achieve this result by means of concentric circles, could not thereby account for all the planetary movements, not merely the apparent revolutions of those bodies but also their ascent, as it seems to us, at some times and descent at others, [a pattern] entirely incompatible with [the principle of] concentricity. Therefore for this purpose it seemed better to employ eccentrics and epicycles, [a system] which most scholars finally accepted. Yet the widespread [planetary theories], advanced by Ptolemy and most other [astronomers], although consistent with the numerical [data], seemed likewise to present no small difficulty. For these theories were not adequate unless they also conceived certain equalizing circles, which made the planet appear to move at all times with uniform velocity neither on its deferent sphere nor about its own [epicycle's] center. Hence this sort of notion seemed neither sufficiently absolute nor sufficiently pleasing to the mind. Therefore, having become aware of these [defects], I often considered whether there could perhaps be found a more reasonable arrangement of circles, from which every apparent irregularity would be derived while everything in itself would move uniformly, as is required by the rule of perfect motion.