Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630

Was Kepler approach more Aristotelean or theoretical?

Kepler's approach was more theoretical, emphasizing mathematical laws to describe planetary motion, in contrast to the Aristotelean focus on qualitative explanations.

Whose works had Kepler studied?

Copernicus

What did he create for students at university?

Horoscopes

What did he witness in 1577?

Witnessed the Great Comet, became passionate about astronomy

What did Kepler feel about Heliocentrism?

Adopted this view but avoided reliance on Ptolemaic spheres

What did Kepler argue about God and the universe in Mysterium Cosmographicum (Cosmic Mystery) in 1596?

Universe was perfectly designed by God

Do rational explanations of the world necessarily lead to a decline in belief in god or the supernatural?

Kepler argued that rational explanations of the universe enhance the understanding of God's creation, rather than diminish belief in the divine.

What flawed feature of Copernicus model did Kepler dispose of?

His reliance on Ptolemaic spheres and epicycles

What did Kepler propose in its place?

Six layers of three-dimensional shapes would correspond to the path of the six planets

What did Kepler write in 1609?

Astronomia Nova (New Astronomy)

What were Kepler’s proposed laws of planetary motion?

• Planets travel in elliptical orbits around the Sun

• Planets travel at an inconsistent speed, faster when closer to the Sun

Whose observations contributed to his laws?

Tycho Brahe

What two scientific concepts did Kepler combine?

Natural philosophy and mathmatics

What happened to Kepler’s mother?

1617, accused of witchcraft

1620, imprisoned

Why might that have affected his belief in witchcraft and magic?

Worked hard to defend his mother in an effort to secure her release

Directly influenced by the societal views of the time regarding witchcraft

What was Kepler’s 3rd law?

The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit

What couldn’t Kepler account for?

Gravitational pull of the Sun

Who developed his theory later on?

Isaac Newton, who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation

How did Kepler view atsronomy?

Religious duty as he saw it as a way to understand the world God created

What does Kepler say about God and the universe in Harmonices Mundi?

Kepler describes the universe as a harmonious creation by God, emphasizing that mathematical relationships reveal divine order and beauty in the cosmos.

What was the impact of abandoning the idea of perfect linear and circular motion?

Questions raised about what caused things to move in the universe

What was the impact of applied mathematics?

Blurred the professions between natural philosophers and mathematicians, led to advancements in scientific understanding and methodology

What was the impact of combined use of observation and theory?

Importance of observation to prove a theory was acknowledged