
History of the Plurality of Worlds
Description
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This book analyzes the many ways that humans have argued for and depicted extraterrestrial life over the centuries. The first known texts about the subject date from as early as the 6th century BC. Since that time, countless well-known historical characters like Lucretius, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Cusanus, Bruno, Kepler, Descartes, and Huygens contributed to the debate; here, their lesser known opinions on the subject are studied in detail.
It is often difficult for the modern mind to follow the thinking of our ancestors, which can only be understood when placed in the relevant context. The book thus extends its scope to the evolution of ideas about cosmology in general, as well as the culture in which these great thinkers wrote. The research is presented with the author's insights and humor, making this an easy and enjoyable read.
Reviews / Votes
"I found this an engaging book, with a much wider scope than suggested by its title. The writing is lively and humorous, welcome when approaching some of the metaphysical and theological passages. The supporting apparatus, footnotes, two bibliographies, and index are thorough, and the production is good . . I am happy to recommend it, not just for specialists." (Peredur Williams, The Observatory, Vol. 141 (1280), February, 2021)"The book is well written, solidly produced, and infused with numerous color . . All things considered, this book is a good contribution to the literature and a fitting historical capstone to a stellar astronomical career." (Steven J. Dick Ashburn, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, Vol. 23 (2), 2020)
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Persons
Dr. Pierre Connes joined the laboratory at CNRS after his university studies in Dijon. There, he helped revolutionize the techniques of analyzing the light of the stars and was a pioneer in Fourier transformation spectroscopy. Connes was a long-time beloved friend of the Astronomical Society of Burgundy. He passed away on February 22, 2019 at the age of 90.
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