When the Earth Was Flat
Studies in Ancient Greek and Chinese Cosmology
This book is a sequel to Heaven and Earth in Ancient Greek Cosmology (Springer 2011). With the help of many pictures, the
reader is introduced into the way of thinking of ancient believers in a flat earth. Les mer
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This book is a sequel to Heaven and Earth in Ancient Greek Cosmology (Springer 2011). With the help of many pictures, the
reader is introduced into the way of thinking of ancient believers in a flat earth. The first part offers new interpretations
of several Presocratic cosmologists and a critical discussion of Aristotle's proofs that the earth is spherical. The second
part explains and discusses the ancient Chinese system called gai tian. The last chapter shows that, inadvertently, ancient
arguments and ideas return in the curious modern flat earth cosmologies.
- FAKTA
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Utgitt:
2018
Forlag: Springer International Publishing AG
Innbinding: Innbundet
Språk: Engelsk
Sider: 361
ISBN: 9783319970516
Format: 24 x 16 cm
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«
“Highly specialized and learned exposition much is made of the textual, conceptual, and … relevant literature. The author is also to be congratulated on his clarity and thoroughness.” (David W. Hughes, The Observatory, Vol. 139 (1270), June, 2019)
»
Spherical versus Flat
Foreword
Acknowledgements
References
Introduction
Chapter 1 Preliminaries on Sources and Methodology
Sources
Methodology
References
Part One Ancient Greece
Chapter 2 Peculiarities of Presocratic Flat Earth Cosmology
The shape of the earth
Arguments concerning the shape of the earth
Geographical issues
The tilt of the celestial axis
The alleged tilt of the earth
Climatological issues
Falling on a flat earth
Distance of the heavens
Temporal issues
References
Chapter 3 Anaximander's Images
Introduction
The cosmic tree
The tilted tree
The reversal in the relationship between air and fire
Tamed fire
Turning wheels
Two images for escaping fire
Tilted wheels
References
Chapter 4 Anaximander's Phenomenological Astronomy
Closing fire spots
Phases of the moon
Lunar eclipses
Solar eclipses
References
Chapter 5 Anaximander's Numbers
Introduction
An ordered universe
Anaximander's numbers of the heavenly bodies
Tannery and the standard interpretation
The problem of the sun's distance
Attempts to explain the origin of Anaximander's cosmological numbers
An interpretation dating from before Tannery
The sun's angular diameter
Skeptical conclusions and a possible way out
A new interpretation: the numbers as a calculator for the lunar cycle
Conclusions
References
Chapter 6 Anaximenes' Cosmology
The cap simile; Graham and the top hat
The tilted earth interpretation of the cap simile
Bicknell's interpretation of the cap simile
McKirahan's interpretation of the cap simile
Fehling and the flat heaven
A fresh look at the doxography
Anonymous texts and Kirk's interpretation
Towards an interpretation of Anaximenes' cosmology
Concluding remarks
References
Chapter 7 Xenophanes' Cosmology
A cosmological quotation from Xenophanes' poem
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Aristotle, Achilles Tatius, Empedocles, pseudo-Aristotle, and Simplicius
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Aetius, Strabo, and Cicero
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Diogenes of Oinoanda, Hippolytus, and pseudo-Plutarch
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of some recent authors
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Mourelatos
The nature and movements of the celestial bodies
The interpretation of an enigmatic text: Drozdek and Mourelatos
Mourelatos' interpretation illustrated by Graham
A cosmic railway system and a cosmic ballet
The different paths of the heavenly bodies according to Mourelatos and Graham
Some more textual and conceptual problems
The earth not infinitely extended, neither in surface nor in depth
The two meanings of
A spherical cosmos and a hemispherical heaven
The "many suns"
The curved paths of the celestial bodies
All disappearances of heavenly bodies are quenchings
Final remarks
References
Chapter 8 Anaxagoras on The Milky Way and Lunar Eclipses
Introduction
The Milky Way
Anaxagoras on the Milky Way
Introductory remarks on eclipses
Anaxagoras' alleged explanation of lunar eclipses
The incompatibility of Anaxagoras' theory of the Milky Way with his alleged explanation of lunar eclipses
Invisible heavenly bodies below the moon
Attempts to understand the invisible bodies as an additional cause of lunar eclipses
Invisible bodies as Anaxagoras' only theory of lunar eclipses
The possible origin of a misunderstanding
Concluding remarks
References
Addendum to Chapter 8: "Crepuscular" Lunar Eclipses During Anaxagoras' Lifetime
References
Chapter 9 Anaxagoras on The Light and Phases of the Moon
Introduction
Could Anaxagoras have given the correct explanation of the moon's phases?
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.25 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.28 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.29 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.30 and analogous texts
Problems and past suggestions to solve them
The ambiguity of "received light"
The moon's light and phases according to Anaxagoras' suggestions for a new interpretation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 10 Anaxagoras and the Measurement of the Sun and Moon
The doxographical evidence
Did Anaxagoras measure the size of the sun and moon with the help of a solar eclipse?
Solar eclipses; umbra, penumbra, and antumbra
Graham and Hintz on the eclipse of February 17, 478 BC
Further critical remarks on Graham and Hintz' attempt
Fehling's attempt
An extrapolation of Thales' method to measure the height of a pyramid
References
Chapter 11 Aristotle's Arguments for the Sphericity of the Earth
Introduction
The first empirical argument
The second empirical argument
The third empirical argument
Empirical arguments that Aristotle did not use
Aristotle on empirical arguments for a flat earth
Theoretical arguments for a spherical earth
Final remarks
References
Part Two Ancient China
Chapter 12 An Ancient Chinese Flat Earth Cosmology. Main Features
The gai tian model of a flat earth and a flat heaven
The movements of the heavenly bodies and the location of Zhou
The shadow rule and the fundamental cosmic measurements
Some more calculations
The incorrectness of the shadow rule
The horizon and the rising and setting sun as optical illusions
Questionable interpretations of the heavens as an optical illusion
The heaven as an optical illusion and the range of visibility
The interrelation of the range of visibility and the area of sunlight
Another interpretation of the three-dimensional shape of sunlight
The size of the area of sunlight (first approach); the circle of the equinox
The size of the area of sunlight (second approach); the xuan ji
How we see the sun; the shadow rule once again
The limited applicability of the shadow rule
The cardinal directions
References
Chapter 13 An Ancient Chinese Flat Earth Cosmology. Details and Calculations
The location of Zhou
Measuring the sun's diameter
The extension of the solar illumination
Geographical measurements
Sunrise and sunset seen from Zhou
The seven heng and the limit of the cosmos
An extrapolation: the southern pole
The heaven shaped like a truncated conical rain hat?
A short evaluation of the gai tian system in the Zhou bi
References
Chapter 14 Ancient Chinese Versus Greek Flat Earth Cosmology
Two kinds of flat earth cosmology compared
Greek influence on the gai tian flat earth cosmology?
References
Chapter 15 Two Appendices: Cosmas Indicopleustes and Samuel Birley Rowbotham
Cosmas Indicopleustes and the shadow rule
Rowbotham: the world not a globe
References
List of Abbreviations
List of Illustrations
Quotations from Ancient Greek and Roman Authors
Quotations from the Zhou bi and Ancient Chinese Authors
Bibliography
Foreword
Acknowledgements
References
Introduction
Chapter 1 Preliminaries on Sources and Methodology
Sources
Methodology
References
Part One Ancient Greece
Chapter 2 Peculiarities of Presocratic Flat Earth Cosmology
The shape of the earth
Arguments concerning the shape of the earth
Geographical issues
The tilt of the celestial axis
The alleged tilt of the earth
Climatological issues
Falling on a flat earth
Distance of the heavens
Temporal issues
References
Chapter 3 Anaximander's Images
Introduction
The cosmic tree
The tilted tree
The reversal in the relationship between air and fire
Tamed fire
Turning wheels
Two images for escaping fire
Tilted wheels
References
Chapter 4 Anaximander's Phenomenological Astronomy
Closing fire spots
Phases of the moon
Lunar eclipses
Solar eclipses
References
Chapter 5 Anaximander's Numbers
Introduction
An ordered universe
Anaximander's numbers of the heavenly bodies
Tannery and the standard interpretation
The problem of the sun's distance
Attempts to explain the origin of Anaximander's cosmological numbers
An interpretation dating from before Tannery
The sun's angular diameter
Skeptical conclusions and a possible way out
A new interpretation: the numbers as a calculator for the lunar cycle
Conclusions
References
Chapter 6 Anaximenes' Cosmology
The cap simile; Graham and the top hat
The tilted earth interpretation of the cap simile
Bicknell's interpretation of the cap simile
McKirahan's interpretation of the cap simile
Fehling and the flat heaven
A fresh look at the doxography
Anonymous texts and Kirk's interpretation
Towards an interpretation of Anaximenes' cosmology
Concluding remarks
References
Chapter 7 Xenophanes' Cosmology
A cosmological quotation from Xenophanes' poem
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Aristotle, Achilles Tatius, Empedocles, pseudo-Aristotle, and Simplicius
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Aetius, Strabo, and Cicero
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Diogenes of Oinoanda, Hippolytus, and pseudo-Plutarch
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of some recent authors
Xenophanes' text in the interpretation of Mourelatos
The nature and movements of the celestial bodies
The interpretation of an enigmatic text: Drozdek and Mourelatos
Mourelatos' interpretation illustrated by Graham
A cosmic railway system and a cosmic ballet
The different paths of the heavenly bodies according to Mourelatos and Graham
Some more textual and conceptual problems
The earth not infinitely extended, neither in surface nor in depth
The two meanings of
A spherical cosmos and a hemispherical heaven
The "many suns"
The curved paths of the celestial bodies
All disappearances of heavenly bodies are quenchings
Final remarks
References
Chapter 8 Anaxagoras on The Milky Way and Lunar Eclipses
Introduction
The Milky Way
Anaxagoras on the Milky Way
Introductory remarks on eclipses
Anaxagoras' alleged explanation of lunar eclipses
The incompatibility of Anaxagoras' theory of the Milky Way with his alleged explanation of lunar eclipses
Invisible heavenly bodies below the moon
Attempts to understand the invisible bodies as an additional cause of lunar eclipses
Invisible bodies as Anaxagoras' only theory of lunar eclipses
The possible origin of a misunderstanding
Concluding remarks
References
Addendum to Chapter 8: "Crepuscular" Lunar Eclipses During Anaxagoras' Lifetime
References
Chapter 9 Anaxagoras on The Light and Phases of the Moon
Introduction
Could Anaxagoras have given the correct explanation of the moon's phases?
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.25 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.28 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.29 and analogous texts
Anaxagoras on the light of the moon in Aetius 2.30 and analogous texts
Problems and past suggestions to solve them
The ambiguity of "received light"
The moon's light and phases according to Anaxagoras' suggestions for a new interpretation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 10 Anaxagoras and the Measurement of the Sun and Moon
The doxographical evidence
Did Anaxagoras measure the size of the sun and moon with the help of a solar eclipse?
Solar eclipses; umbra, penumbra, and antumbra
Graham and Hintz on the eclipse of February 17, 478 BC
Further critical remarks on Graham and Hintz' attempt
Fehling's attempt
An extrapolation of Thales' method to measure the height of a pyramid
References
Chapter 11 Aristotle's Arguments for the Sphericity of the Earth
Introduction
The first empirical argument
The second empirical argument
The third empirical argument
Empirical arguments that Aristotle did not use
Aristotle on empirical arguments for a flat earth
Theoretical arguments for a spherical earth
Final remarks
References
Part Two Ancient China
Chapter 12 An Ancient Chinese Flat Earth Cosmology. Main Features
The gai tian model of a flat earth and a flat heaven
The movements of the heavenly bodies and the location of Zhou
The shadow rule and the fundamental cosmic measurements
Some more calculations
The incorrectness of the shadow rule
The horizon and the rising and setting sun as optical illusions
Questionable interpretations of the heavens as an optical illusion
The heaven as an optical illusion and the range of visibility
The interrelation of the range of visibility and the area of sunlight
Another interpretation of the three-dimensional shape of sunlight
The size of the area of sunlight (first approach); the circle of the equinox
The size of the area of sunlight (second approach); the xuan ji
How we see the sun; the shadow rule once again
The limited applicability of the shadow rule
The cardinal directions
References
Chapter 13 An Ancient Chinese Flat Earth Cosmology. Details and Calculations
The location of Zhou
Measuring the sun's diameter
The extension of the solar illumination
Geographical measurements
Sunrise and sunset seen from Zhou
The seven heng and the limit of the cosmos
An extrapolation: the southern pole
The heaven shaped like a truncated conical rain hat?
A short evaluation of the gai tian system in the Zhou bi
References
Chapter 14 Ancient Chinese Versus Greek Flat Earth Cosmology
Two kinds of flat earth cosmology compared
Greek influence on the gai tian flat earth cosmology?
References
Chapter 15 Two Appendices: Cosmas Indicopleustes and Samuel Birley Rowbotham
Cosmas Indicopleustes and the shadow rule
Rowbotham: the world not a globe
References
List of Abbreviations
List of Illustrations
Quotations from Ancient Greek and Roman Authors
Quotations from the Zhou bi and Ancient Chinese Authors
Bibliography
Dirk L. Couprie is a retired scholar (University of Leiden). Doctoral dissertation at University of Amsterdam with a thesis
on Anaximander.Current position: leader of a project on Presocratic Philosophy at the philosophical department of the faculty
of philosophy and arts, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.Areas of work: Presocratic philosophy, more especially Presocratic
cosmology; also ancient cosmology in a broader perspective (ancient Egyptian, ancient Jewish, ancient Chinese).