Conflict Between Aristotle and Copernicus

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Science can be regarded as an everlasting research of every aspect of the universe. People have been working out various theories since pre-historic times. It may seem that there can be only one truth, so only one theory has the right to exist. However, Kuhn (1970) explains the abundance of various theories by the peculiarity of peoples perception.

Thus, if there are no explicit and definite facts people describe and interpret the same phenomena in different ways (Kuhn, 1970, p. 17). The theories were later developed into paradigms which became the basis of numerous studies and further research.

The development of a paradigm is quite a lasting and complicated process. It includes facts accumulation and interpretation, and implementation of various experiments aimed at justifying the paradigm. As has been mentioned above people often explain the same phenomena differently, so many paradigms emerge.

Nevertheless, only few of them become more successful (accepted by the majority) than many others. Kuhn (1970) gives a simple explanation of a paradigm success by defining it as a promise of success discoverable in selected and still incomplete examples (p.23-24).

In other words successful paradigm is a scope of theories and facts which can be proved within some limited field. These paradigms usually suggest that there are certain facts (gaps in the theories) which cannot be proved because they pertain to another field of science, or these gaps are not worth proving at all.

These imperfections of paradigms can be regarded as dark sides of knowledge which do not deserve attention. However, these gaps are, on the contrary, the greatest stimuli of further development. For instance, many scientists trying to fill in the gap often open up new horizons for science developing new more complete paradigms. Kuhn (1970) claims that these discoveries bring some subtle changes or even can become revolutionary. There are many examples of such scientific revolutions.

One of the brightest examples of revolutionary discovery is the development of heliocentric paradigm by Copernicus. Many non-scientists assume that Copernicuss heliocentric theory is absolutely innovative. However, Copernicus discovery was based on the knowledge accumulated by Aristotle and other ancient thinkers (Africa, 1961, p. 404). In fact, the development of the entire heliocentrism can be regarded as a conventional illustration of the Kuhns paradigm theory.

Aristotles paradigm of the place of the Earth and other planets was closely connected with their motion and their orbits. However, this paradigm was mathematically imperfect containing many discrepancies and many gaps. Thus, Aristotle depicted planets orbits and portrayed their motion in the universe focusing on logic more than pure mathematics. Aristotle logically proved that the Earth must be in the centre due to certain facts and observations.

Nevertheless, his paradigm was not based on substantial mathematic calculations. This was a stimulus to fill in the gap in the paradigm which was generally accepted in the Middle Ages.

Basically, Copernicus filled in the gap in the successful paradigm and developed a new one based on more thorough research. Copernicus did not try show that the heliostatic hypothesis was mathematically absurd (Elton, 1990, p.435). Copernicus studied many theories, which enabled him to notice the discrepancies in Aristotles paradigm.

For instance, Copernicus focused on the mathematical calculations rather than accepted theory. The great astronomer was not going to refute the universal truth, since at that time heliocentrism was regarded as the only true model of the universe which coincided with the medieval world view (Clutton-Brock, 2005, p. 208). In fact, he was trying to fill in the gap.

He calculated that Aristotles model is incorrect since the orbits of planets located in that way would intersect. Copernicus continued his research and developed a new model of the universe which contradicted Aristotles paradigm since the Earth was not the centre, but one of the planets moving around the Sun.

Of course, his new paradigm was not generally accepted since it opposed the core principle of Aristotles paradigm (that the Earth was the centre of the universe) which was suitable for the Church and agreed with the medieval world view. However, later additional facts enabled other scientists to prove the correctness of Copernicuss paradigm.

Regarding the development of Copernicuss paradigm in terms of Kuhns theory it s possible to point out that as any other new paradigm it was based on the old one to great extent, so it had a lot in common. For instance, both paradigms (Aristotles geostatic universe and Copernicuss heliostatic universe) shared the same assumption that the planets were moving around one object. Thus, Aristotle regarded all heavenly objects as material objects characterized by motion.

The planets (according to Aristotle) had their definite orbits. As far as Copernicuss paradigm is concerned, the planets were also moving in certain order having their own orbits. The major difference was in calculations and the order of planets. Aristotle placed the Earth in the centre with other planets (and the Sun) moving around it. Whereas, Copernicus calculated that the Earth could not be the centre since the orbits of the planets would intersect.

Thus, Copernicus agreed with the core principle of Aristotles paradigm about the planetary motion, but noticed certain gaps and uncertainties in the generally accepted theory.

This fits the theory of the development of new paradigms and the development of science. Copernicus would not assumed that the Earth was the centre of the universe and would not develop the model of the universe which is generally accepted and proven nowadays, if he did not have the necessary knowledge about the motion of the planets and the existence of such phenomenon as the planets orbit.

On balance, it is possible to conclude that the development of Copernicuss theory of heliocentric universe became possible due to the conflict of the core paradigms of Copernicus and Aristotle. Copernicus researched discrepancies of the existing generally accepted paradigm, Aristotles geocentric universe.

Copernicus took into account many other theories, facts and assumptions. Basically, the background of his revolutionary paradigm was the old one. Copernicus admitted that the planets move, but calculated that they had other positions in the universe. Thus, the imperfection of Aristotles paradigm (its mathematical incompleteness) became the reason of further research which resulted in Copernicuss heliocentric theory.

On a final note, it is necessary to point out that this is the conventional example of development of science considered by Kuhn. The theories form new paradigms which lead to new facts and assumptions. Fortunately, people notice imperfections in others work and are eager to correct the mistakes and fill in the gaps. This is the universal rule of development: people reveal new facets of something which is already known.

Reference List

Africa, T. W. (1961). Copernicus Relation to Aristarchus and Pythagoras. Isis, 52(3), 403-409.

Clutton-Brock, M. (2005). Copernicuss Path to His Cosmology: An Attempted Reconstruction. Journal for the History of Astronomy, 36(123), 197-216.

Elton, G.R. (Ed.). (1990). The New Cambridge Modern History. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Kuhn, T. S. (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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Conflict Between Aristotle and Copernicus

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