What Am I Looking At – Part III

“Aristotle”

     by Aaron Clevenson

 

This is the third in a series of interviews with famous astronomers of the ages.  Our ultimate goal is to trace our understandings of the physical universe.  This month we are going to talk to Aristotle.

 

NORTHSTAR:  Tell us a little about yourself.

ARISTOTLE:  I am an empiricist.  I came to Plato’s Academy, but unlike Plato, who was very much involved in thinking about the Universe, I prefer to look at the Universe.  I have written books and lectured on many things including: logic, rhetoric, poetry, ethics, economics, politics, physics, metaphysics, natural history, anatomy, physiology, and the weather.  I have developed an improved model of the Universe.

NORTHSTAR:  Why are you not at the Academy now?

ARISTOTLE:  I was passed over twice for the directorship of the Academy.  There is little question that I have the knowledge and renown for the position, but I felt that there was friction and a lack of comfort with my style.  In light of this I left the Academy and set out to start my own, the Lyceum.

NORTHSTAR:  Why did you need to develop a new model?  Be understood that the model created by Eudoxus was able to explain all of the data.

ARISTOTLE:  Initially this was true.  The model created by Eudoxus is elegant and works well, but as time passed, and we became aware of additional observational data from the Babylonians (by 300 BC) the model was no longer adequate.

NORTHSTAR:  Tell us about your new and improved model.

ARISTOTLE:  I began with the model of Eudoxus. With the aid of my assistant, Callippus, we were able to refine the model and produce our own.  This model is consistent, symmetrical, expansive, and graceful to contemplate.  We refined and adjusted the parameters, and our model now has 55 translucent spheres.  Beyond the outermost sphere nothing exists.  This model, with its epicycles and eccentricities can explain all of the motions of all of the observable objects in the sky.   The details are published in my book: De Caelo (On the Heavens).  Do you own a copy?

NORTHSTAR:  Thank you Aristotle.  Your improved model has illuminated the science of the Heavens for us.