Kepler’s Cosmological Synthesis History of Science and Medicine Library VOLUME 39 Medieval and Early Modern Science Editors J. M. M. H. Thijssen, Radboud University Nijmegen C. H. Lüthy, Radboud University Nijmegen Editorial Consultants Joël Biard, University of Tours Simo Knuuttila, University of Helsinki Jürgen Renn, Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science Theo Verbeek, University of Utrecht VOLUME 20 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/hsml Kepler’s Cosmological Synthesis Astrology, Mechanism and the Soul By Patrick J. Boner LEIDEN • BOSTON 2013 Cover illustration: Kepler’s Supernova, SN 1604, appears as a new star in the foot of Ophiuchus near the letter N. In: Johannes Kepler, De stella nova in pede Serpentarii, Prague: Paul Sessius, 1606, pp. 76–77. Courtesy of the Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Boner, Patrick, author. Kepler’s cosmological synthesis: astrology, mechanism and the soul / by Patrick J. Boner. pages cm. — (History of science and medicine library, ISSN 1872-0684; volume 39; Medieval and early modern science; volume 20) Based on the author’s doctoral dissertation, University of Cambridge, 2007. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-24608-9 (hardback: alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-24609-6 (e-book) 1. Kepler, Johannes, 1571–1630—Philosophy. 2. Cosmology—History. 3. Astronomy—History. I. Title. II. Series: History of science and medicine library; v. 39. III. Series: History of science and medicine library. Medieval and early modern science; v. 20. QB36.K4.B638 2013 523.1092—dc23 2013013707 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see www.brill.com/brill-typeface. 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To María Fernanda CONTENTS Acknowledgements ........................................................................................ ix List of Illustrations .......................................................................................... xi List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................... xiii Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1 Kepler’s Vitalistic View of the Heavens: Some Preliminary Remarks ................................................................................................. 11 Kepler’s Clockwork Metaphor ......................................................... 12 Spiritual Agency in Kepler’s Astrology ......................................... 33 Threads of Continuity in Kepler’s Cosmology ........................... 37 2 Kepler’s Early Career in Astrology, 1594–1599 ................................. 39 Not All Astrologers Created Equally: Kepler’s Perception of His Practice ...................................................................................... 43 Conserving the Kernel: Kepler’s Early Conception of the Astrological Aspects ...................................................................... 49 From the Earth to Humanity: Further Effects of the Astrological Aspects ...................................................................... 58 The Weight of Proof: Observational Evidence for the Astrological Aspects ...................................................................... 63 3 The New Star of 1604 .............................................................................. 69 The Multiple Purposes of On the New Star ................................. 75 The Soul of the Earth: Instinctual Responses to the Astrological Aspects ...................................................................... 85 Finding Middle Ground: The Soul of the Earth and the Surrounding Cosmos ..................................................................... 91 Philosophical Marvel and Theological Miracle: The Many Meanings of the New Star ........................................................... 99 4 The Comets of 1607 and 1618 ................................................................ 105 The Role of Divine Providence in Kepler’s Cometary Theory 109 Clarifying Curvature and the Rectilinear Course of Comets 121 Celestial Sympathy and Earthly Knowledge of Comets .......... 127 viii contents 5 Kepler’s Apology ....................................................................................... 135 Situating the Soul of the Earth: Elemental Instruments and their Animate Impetus ................................................................. 139 Configurations and Consonances: The Earthly Orchestra of the Astrological Aspects ............................................................... 158 Differences over Divinity: Kepler’s Final Criticisms of Fludd 163 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 167 Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 173 Index of Persons .............................................................................................. 183 Index of Places ................................................................................................. 185 Index of Subjects ............................................................................................. 186 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book is based on my doctoral dissertation, which I completed at the University of Cambridge in 2007. I wish to thank my supervisor, Nicholas Jardine, for his service and support. A constant source of compassion and insight, Nick has contributed to this work in countless ways. Liba Taub, my advisor, led me to identify new links between Kepler and the classical tradition. I also wish to thank Miguel Ángel Granada (University of Barce- lona) and Peter Barker (University of Oklahoma), who kindly hosted me at different points in my doctoral program. I am grateful to Miguel Ángel and Peter for their continuing role in my research. My interest in the history of science was first awakened by Robert A. Hatch at the University of Florida. When Bob first agreed to supervise my undergraduate thesis on Kepler’s astrology, he encouraged me to consider it a book from the very beginning. Bob has welcomed the burden of edit- ing more than a decade of writing while witnessing it evolve into the form that it now takes in the following pages. No one familiar with Bob’s work (and wit) will fail to recognize his indelible influence. I am grateful for his invaluable assistance and assume full responsibility for any remaining errors and omissions. This book has been thoroughly revised over the course of two post- doctoral fellowships. I wish to thank the Humboldt Foundation for the chance to explore the wealth of resources at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and the Bavarian State Library. My time in Munich was marked especially by the collegiality of Daniel A. Di Liscia, who encouraged me to examine the correspondence of Kepler more closely. I also wish to thank the National Science Foundation for the opportunity to come to the Johns Hopkins University to complete this book. My advisor, Lawrence M. Principe, offered sound advice and suggested ever new sources to better and broaden my scope of study. A vibrant community of scholars at the Department of History of Science and Technology provided critical com- ments that greatly improved this work. I am especially grateful to Sharon Kingsland and Danielle Stout for making me feel more at home by provid- ing me with the perfect facilities. The final stages of revision were made possible by funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, as part of the Project FFI2009-07156 “Cosmología, teología y antropología en la primera fase de x acknowledgements la Revolución Científica (1543–1633).” I wish to thank my fellow project members, Miguel Ángel Granada and Dario Tessicini, for permission to reproduce a large portion of my paper, “Kepler’s Vitalistic View of the Heavens: Some Preliminary Remarks” (2012), in Chapter 1. I also wish to thank Christoph Lüthy and two anonymous referees for revising an earlier version of the manuscript. As with any project that takes multiple years to complete, there are many others to thank. Most of you know who you are, and I am forever in your debt. Finally, this book would not have been possible without the loving support of my family and friends. In Baltimore, the Hopkins Harriers pro- vided a vital distraction and daily remedy from the doldrums