Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy Volume 24 REVOLUTION AND CONTINUITY Essays in the History and Philosophy of Early Modern Science Edited by Peter Barker and Roger Ariew REVOLUTION AND CONTINUITY Essays in the History and Philosophy of Modern Science Edited by Peter Barker and Roger Ariew Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy Volume 24 This volume presents new work in history and historiography to the increasingly broad audience for studies of the history and philos¬ ophy of science. These essays are linked by a concern to understand the content of early modern science in its own context. The edi¬ tors’ introduction—itself a substantial essay— examines several myths about the Copernican revolution perpetuated by the neglect of con¬ text. They conclude that the question of mod¬ ern science's continuity with medieval science cannot be settled except by particular histori¬ cal investigations—a conclusion that under¬ mines the presumption of discontinuity in most contemporary history and philosophy of science. Neither continuity nor discontinuity may be legislated. The papers presented in this volume form four groups. The first two essays address his¬ toriographical questions concerning the role of institutions such as universities and scien¬ tific academies in the founding of modern sci¬ ence. Mordechai Feingold substantially qual¬ ifies the thesis that universities were the centers of resistance to the new science. David Lux examines the pervasive influence of Martha Ornstein’s work concerning seven¬ teenth-century scientific societies. The second group of essays extends the range of histori¬ cal studies into generally neglected areas of science. Harold Cook’s essay provides an entry into a range of issues connecting medi¬ cine and other sciences. Roger Ariew’s pa¬ per reminds us that astronomy and physics (continued on the back flap) i * irv'MN oivii i n, dn. LioriMtlY utIMI tH Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas 78626 A FRANK SMITH, JR. LIBRARY CENTER SOUTHWESTERN UN VERSITY 3 3053 00272 9952 r'A-rr DUE REVOLUTION AND CONTINUITY STUDIES IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY General Editor: Jude P. Dougherty Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy Volume 24 Revolution and Continuity Essays in the History and Philosophy of Early Modern Science edited by Peter Barker and Roger Ariew THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS Washington, D.C. Copyright © tggi The Catholic University of America Press All rights reserved The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards for In¬ formation Science—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi Z39.48-1984. 00 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Revolution and continuity : essays in the history and philosophy of early modern science /edited by Peter Barker and Roger Ariew. p. cm.—(Studies in philosophy and the history of philosophy : v. 24) Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 0-8132-0738-x (permanent paper) 1. Science—History. 2. Science—History—17th century. 3. Science—Philosophy—History. 4. Continuity. 1. Barker, Peter, 1949— • u- Ariew, Roger, in. Series. B21.S78 vol. 24 [Q175-3] IOO S-dc20 [501] 90-!9633 *£<s/ £34 * Contents Introduction, by peter barker and roger ariew i PART I: SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS 1. david lux, Societies, Circles, Academies, and Organizations: A Historiographic Essay on Seventeenth-Century Science 23 2. mordechai feingold, Tradition versus Novelty: Universities and Scientific Societies in the Early Modern Period 45 PART II: MEDICINE AND GEOLOGY 3. Harold cook, Physick and Natural History in Seventeenth-Century England 63 4. roger ariew, A New Science of Geology in the Seventeenth Century? 81 PART III: ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS 5. alan gabbey. Innovation and Continuity in the History of Astronomy: The Case of the Rotating Moon 95 6. Joseph pitt, The Heavens and Earth: Bellarmine and Galileo 131 7. Bernard R. Goldstein, The Blasphemy of Alfonso X: History or Myth? 143 PART IV: MATHEMATICS 8. Francois de gandt, Cavalieri’s Indivisibles and Euclid’s Canons 157 9. emily grosholz, Descartes’ Geometry and the Classical Tradition 183 Bibliography 197 Notes on the Contributors 213 Index 217 v