Skip to main content

Cosmology in the Renaissance

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy
  • 9 Accesses

Abstract

The Renaissance views of the cosmos largely followed the medieval pattern. Only by the sixteenth century, some important innovations were proposed. These resulted from the increased application of mathematical methods. Whereas earlier ideas on the universe depended on metaphysical and religious insights; astronomers increasingly discussed the constitution of the universe referring to empirical facts. Especially the work of Copernicus (1543) set the agenda for the early modern debates on the constitution of the universe. It is only in the course of these debates that a field of study arose that can be identified to modern cosmology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,399.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boner, Patrick J. (ed.). 2011. Change and continuity in early modern cosmology. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donahue, William H. 1981. The dissolution of the celestial spheres 1595–1650. New York: Arno Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, Edward. 1994. Planets, stars, and orbs, The medieval cosmos, 1200–1687. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heninger, Simeon K. 1974. Touches of sweet harmony. Pythagorean cosmology and Renaissance poetics. San Marino: Huntington Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heninger, Simeon K. 1977. The cosmographical glass: Renaissance diagrams of the universe. San Marino: Huntington Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prins, Jacomien. 2009. Echoes of an invisible world. Marsilio Ficino and Francesco Patrizi on cosmic order and music theory. Utrecht, Leiden: Jacomien Prins

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman, Robert S. 2011. The Copernican question. Prognostication, skepticism, and celestial order. Berkeley/Los Angeles: University of California Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rienk Vermij .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Vermij, R. (2022). Cosmology in the Renaissance. In: Sgarbi, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14169-5_257

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics