Man’s Place in the Man’s Place in the UniverseUniverse

This presentation is based on This presentation is based on ideas developed by ideas developed by

Arthur O. LovejoyArthur O. Lovejoy in in

his his The Great Chain of BeingThe Great Chain of Being

Errors are my own.Errors are my own.

and byand byErich AuerbachErich Auerbach in his in his

Mimesis: Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in The Representation of Reality in

Western LiteratureWestern Literature

I. The Two Primary RootsI. The Two Primary Rootsof Western Culture:of Western Culture:

The Jews and the Greeks

The JewsThe Jews

MonotheismMonotheism Focus on the spiritualFocus on the spiritual An eclipse of the sunAn eclipse of the sun

The GreeksThe Greeks

PolytheismPolytheism Focus on the material (geometry)Focus on the material (geometry) An eclipse of the sunAn eclipse of the sun

The Greek UniverseThe Greek Universe

Aristotle (384-322 B.C)Aristotle (384-322 B.C)

II. ChristianityII. Christianity

Christ is born; Christ dies.Christ is born; Christ dies. ““Go and convert all nations.”Go and convert all nations.”

The Conversion of RomeThe Conversion of Rome

Christianity’s Christianity’s AdoptionAdoption

of of the Ptolemaic the Ptolemaic

UniverseUniverse Complex storyComplex story I like to imagine.I like to imagine. But it did happen – the Ptolemaic But it did happen – the Ptolemaic

universe became a primary universe became a primary philosophical and theological base philosophical and theological base of Christian belief.of Christian belief.

III. Results of Adoption:III. Results of Adoption:

The Great Chain of BeingThe Great Chain of Being GodGod AngelsAngels ManMan AnimalsAnimals RocksRocks

““A place for everything, and A place for everything, and everything in its place”everything in its place”

““A place for everything, A place for everything, and everything in its and everything in its

place”place” Astronomy Biology Metals Music Astrology

Kings, Popes, and Common Kings, Popes, and Common FolksFolks

This is Shakespeare’s universe.

IV. The Beginning of the IV. The Beginning of the End End

of the Ptolemaic Universeof the Ptolemaic Universe Astronomical observationsAstronomical observations Lenses (glasses) developed in the Lenses (glasses) developed in the

1313thth century century Trepidations of the SpheresTrepidations of the Spheres

Nicolas CopernicusNicolas Copernicus On the On the

Revolutions Revolutions of the of the Heavenly Heavenly OrbitsOrbits (1543) (1543)

Died unknownDied unknown

The sun is the center of the solar system.

Martin LutherMartin Luther

In 1517 he posted 95 In 1517 he posted 95 Theses on the door Theses on the door of the Wittenburg of the Wittenburg CathedralCathedral

The beginning of the The beginning of the Protestant Protestant ReformationReformation

Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei

1564-16421564-1642 1609 – his telescope1609 – his telescope Confirms Confirms

Copernican view of Copernican view of the universethe universe

Loud-mouthed Loud-mouthed ItalianItalian

ExcommunicatedExcommunicated

Efforts to Save Efforts to Save the Ptolemaic Systemthe Ptolemaic System

Epicycles and Epicycles and EccentricsEccentrics

Persistence of the Persistence of the SystemSystem

Johann Sebastian Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)Bach (1685-1750)

The Well-The Well-Tempered Clavier Tempered Clavier (c. 1717)(c. 1717)

““Diabolus in Diabolus in Musica”Musica”

V. Results of the BreakupV. Results of the Breakup Man is no longer at the physical center of Man is no longer at the physical center of

God’s universe. (He’s on the third rock God’s universe. (He’s on the third rock from the sun.)from the sun.)

Western Christianity has broken into Western Christianity has broken into denominations.denominations.

Man’s sense of identity is now an open Man’s sense of identity is now an open question.question.

Absolute truth is called into question.Absolute truth is called into question. Catholic Church has moved back toward its Catholic Church has moved back toward its

Jewish root. It no longer takes absolute Jewish root. It no longer takes absolute positions on science (evolution).positions on science (evolution).