126 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



church would receive his work favorably. His doctrine had been 

 known to them since 1530. He knew, however, that several powerful 

 university teachers — Fracastor for one — opposed it. Ought we not to 

 interpret the apology as an address to men of science? Whewell justly 

 remarks that Copernicus seems to consider the opposition of divines 

 as a 'less formidable danger' than that of astronomers. It is difficult 

 to admit that Osiander dared to prefix this note without the authoriza- 

 tion of Copernicus, or, at least, of Kheticus. There seems to be no 

 reason to doubt that it was addressed solely to men of science. 



The words of the apology represent the exact point of view of 

 the ancients, and are entirely opposed to the attitude of modern 

 science. Centuries of experience have taught the modern world that 

 there is one and only one solution to a scientific problem. Modern 

 science is a search for such unique solutions. Anything less definite 

 is an hypothesis to be held tentatively and temporarily, it may be even 

 alternatively with another, or others. The theories of the Greek 

 philosophers were, in general, held by them primarily as hypotheses. 

 Their whole attitude towards scientific certainty was thus entirely dif- 

 ferent from our own. In the time of Copernicus the minds of most 

 men were cast in the ancient temper. It is, in fact, from his century 

 that the new insight dates. This is not to say that colossal geniuses 

 like Archimedes or Eoger Bacon did not work in what we call the 

 modern spirit. It is simply to confirm t^hat most of the contemporaries 

 of Copernicus belonged, in this respect, to the ancient world. The 

 apology expressed exactly their attitude. The attitude and temper of 

 the modern world are entirely different ; they are perfectly formulated in 

 these words of Pascal : "Cen 'est pas le decret de Eome sur le mouve- 

 ment de la terre qui prouvera qu'elle demeure en repos; et, si Ton 

 avait des observations constantes qui prouvassent que c'est elle qui 

 tourne, tous les hommes ensembles ne 1 'empecheraient pas de tourner, 

 et ne s 'empecheraient pas de tourner avec elle." 



It required this very book of Copernicus to suggest the pregnant 

 phrase of Pascal. 



In the letter of dedication to the Pope — Paul III. — Copernicus 

 speaks in his own name. His words are simple and serious, full of 

 dignity and conviction: 



I dedicate my book to your Holiness in order that both learned men and the 

 ignorant may see that I do not shrink from judgment and examination. If 

 perchance there be vain babblers who, knowing nothing of mathematics, yet 

 assume the right of judging on account of some place of Scripture perversely 

 iwisted to their purpose, and who blame and attack my undertaking, I heed 

 them not and look upon their judgments as rash and contemptible. 



He is here referring to divines. The following is addressed to as- 

 tronomers. 



