Kepler's Witch: an Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother.
JAMES A. CONNOR
Johannes Kepler is celebrated at the "father of celestial Mechanics celestial mechanics, the study of the motions of astronomical bodies as they move under the influence of their mutual gravitation. Celestial mechanics analyzes the orbital motions of planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and natural and artificial satellites ." His three laws The Three Laws may refer to: - Three Laws of Robotics, written by Isaac Asimov
- Three Laws of Robotic Sexuality, parodies Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics
of planetary motion set the stage for Isaac Newton's work on gravity and provided proof of the Copernican universe. This 17th-century astronomer also exhibited a host of other talents and was a revolutionary in the fields of optics and mathematics. Yet Kepler lived in times of religious turmoil and political strife. In this biography, Connor carefully details the role of this social climate in Kepler's life. The author, a former Jesuit priest, considers how Kepler's religious convictions as a devout Lutheran affected his work, relationships, and role in the church. Connor explains that Kepler was driven by his loyalty to Calvinism, which stood in the way of the riches and notoriety that his contemporaries Galileo and Tycho Brahe Tycho Brahe: see Brahe, Tycho. enjoyed. While Galileo had his problems with the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. , he is viewed as a martyr for his persecution. Kepler didn't fare as well, and Connor believes that's because Kepler didn't "separate his science from his metaphysics metaphysics (mĕtəfĭz`ĭks), branch of philosophy concerned with the ultimate nature of existence. It perpetuates the Metaphysics of Aristotle, a collection of treatises placed after the Physics [Gr. or his metaphysics from his mysticism." Kepler's mother was tried for witchcraft, and Connor explores this time in Kepler's life to understand the man and the times in which he lived. Kepler advanced his scientific ideas while maintaining his religious loyalty. HarpSF, 2004, 402 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $24.95.
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