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Copernicus and Copernicans:  Galileo, Kepler, Bruno

Publication date: 11.09.2024

Studia Historiae Scientiarum, 2024, 23 (2024), pp. 131-153

https://doi.org/10.4467/2543702XSHS.24.004.19577

Authors

Ünsal Çimen
Muş Alparslan University
, Turkey
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0575-6053 Orcid
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Copernicus and Copernicans:  Galileo, Kepler, Bruno

Abstract

Copernicus claimed the Earth revolves around itself and the Sun. He also claimed that the universe was finite and that no intelligent life existed on other planets. Galileo and Kepler shared these claims; therefore, they deserve to be called Copernicans. But what about Giordano Bruno? He adopted Hermetic philosophy and opposed Copernicus’s mathematical (geometric) method; he also claimed, unlike Copernicus, that the universe was infinite and that there were intelligent life forms on other planets. So, can we define Bruno and those who thought like him as Copernicans? Ernan McMullin answers this question in the negative. In this paper, I will argue that the differences between Bruno and Copernicus mentioned by McMullin cannot be used as criteria for claiming that Bruno and others who thought like him were not Copernicans; instead, I argue that believing the Earth rotates around itself and the Sun should be considered sufficient to call someone a Copernican.

References

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Information

Information: Studia Historiae Scientiarum, 2024, 23 (2024), pp. 131-153

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English: Copernicus and Copernicans:  Galileo, Kepler, Bruno
Polish: Kopernik i kopernikańczycy: Galileusz, Kepler, Bruno

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0575-6053

Ünsal Çimen
Muş Alparslan University
, Turkey
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0575-6053 Orcid
Contact with author
All publications →

Muş Alparslan University
Turkey

Published at: 11.09.2024

Received at: 18.12.2023

Accepted at: 17.06.2024

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Ünsal Çimen (Author) - 100%

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Publication languages:

English

View count: 140

Number of downloads: 110

Copernicus and Copernicans:  Galileo, Kepler, Bruno

Copernicus and Copernicans:  Galileo, Kepler, Bruno

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