Principle of the Relativity of Motion in Pre - Copernican Science

• Authors: Pabjan T.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The relativity of motion is a physical phenomenon, which consists in the fact that the movement of a body that can be seen by an observer depends on the state of motion of the observer himself. According to the principle of relativity of motion, which is discussed in this paper, there are no absolute motions. The only motions that have physical meaning are the relative motions - that are motions observed or described in a given system of reference. It is often said that Copernicus was the first relativist in the history of mankind, because as first used the principle of relativity of motion as the main argument against the movement of the Sun and the whole sky. This paper is willing to show that this thesis is not true. Relativity of motion was commonly known before Copernicus. This article presents a number of ancient as well as medieval authors, who knew the principle of relativity of motion. In their writings one can see how the process of relativization of the notion of motion proceeded within the philosophical and scientific outlook.

Keywords

EN

RELATIVITY OF MOTION PRINCIPLE

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Instytut Historii Nauki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• Journal: Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 1
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Pabjan T.

• T. Pabjan, Papieska Akademia Teologiczna w Krakowie, Wydzial Teologiczny, ul. Franciszkanska 1, 31-004 Kraków, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

08PLAAAA04478676