Article ID: CBB000651196

Levi ben Gershom's Criticism of Ptolemy's Astronomy (2005)

unapi

Levi ben Gershom or Gersonides (1288-1344), one of the most original thinkers of the Middle Ages, devoted the first section of the fifth book of his Milhamot ha-Shem to an exposition of his astronomical system, which was based on his own observations and departed in many respects from prevailing views. Heir to a long tradition of criticism of Ptolemy, which he associated notably with al-Bitruji Book on the Configuration [of the World], but which reached him also through Maimonides' Guide and Averroes' Epitome of the Almagest, Gersonides tried to reconcile the physical and the mathematical descriptions of the heavenly motions and provide a true picture of the configuration of the world. The long chapters 43 and 44 of his Astronomy are devoted, respectively to the demonstration that neither Ptolemy's nor al-Bitruji's astronomical theories can be true. Critical editions of the Hebrew and Latin versions of chapter 43 are presented here, along with an annotated English translation.

...More
Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000651196/

Similar Citations

Article Mancha, J. L.; (2012)
The Theory of Access and Recess in Levi ben Gerson's Astronomy, and Its Sources (/isis/citation/CBB001231657/)

Article Bernard R. Goldstein; (2022)
A Newly Identified Astronomical Table by Immanuel ben Jacob of Tarascon (/isis/citation/CBB997205078/)

Article Goldstein, Bernard R.; (2012)
Levi ben Gerson on the Principles of Cosmology (/isis/citation/CBB001231656/)

Chapter Mancha, José Luis; (2011)
Demonstrative Astronomy: Notes on Levi ben Geršom's Answer to Guide II.24 (/isis/citation/CBB001260518/)

Article Bernard R. Goldstein; Giora Hon; (2020)
Scientific Methodology in Medieval Astronomy and Cosmology: The Case of Levi ben Gerson (1288–1344) (/isis/citation/CBB467087894/)

Book Sela, Shlomo; (2003)
Abraham Ibn Ezra and the Rise of Medieval Hebrew Science (/isis/citation/CBB000410945/)

Article Feldman, Seymour; (2012)
On Plural Universes: A Debate in Medieval Jewish Philosophy and the Duhem-Pines Thesis (/isis/citation/CBB001211060/)

Article Harvey, Warren Zev; (2012)
Gersonides and Spinoza on Conatus (/isis/citation/CBB001211058/)

Chapter Goldstein, Bernard R.; (1992)
Lunar velocity in the Ptolemaic tradition (/isis/citation/CBB000054039/)

Article Gaziel, Ahuva; (2012)
Gersonides' Naturalistic Account of Providence in Light of the Book of Animals (/isis/citation/CBB001211057/)

Chapter Gatti, Roberto; (2008)
L'infinito fisico in Gersonide (Milḥamot ha-Šem, Libro sesto, Parte prima, cap. XI) (/isis/citation/CBB001020551/)

Article Freudenthal, Gad; Fontaine, Resianne; (2012)
Gersonides on the Dis-/order of the Sublunar World and on Providence (/isis/citation/CBB001211059/)

Article Klein-Braslavy, Sara; Schramm, Lenn; (2012)
Aristotle's Concept of Chance as an Investigative Tool in Gersonides' Wars of the Lord (/isis/citation/CBB001231658/)

Article Simonson, Shai; (2000)
The Missing Problems of Gersonides--A Critical Edition. Part I; Part II (/isis/citation/CBB000111394/)

Article Langermann, Y. Tzvi; (2008)
From My Notebooks: A (The?) Geniza Fragment on Optics (/isis/citation/CBB000930647/)

Article Goldstein, Bernard R.; (1976)
Astronomical and astrological themes in the philosophical works of Levi Ben Gerson (/isis/citation/CBB000027228/)

Article Goldstein, Bernard R.; (1997)
The physical astronomy of Levi ben Gerson (/isis/citation/CBB000073601/)

Authors & Contributors
Goldstein, Bernard R.
Freudenthal, Gad
Elior, Ofer
Wirmer, David
Simonson, Shai
Sela, Shlomo
Concepts
Jewish civilization and culture
Astronomy
Philosophy
Aristotelianism
Cosmology
Judaism
Time Periods
Medieval
14th century
Early modern
17th century
13th century
Places
France
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment