| Abstract | Rad nudi pregled razvoja astronomije od antičkih vremena do sedamnaestog stoljeća, i to posebno s obzirom na ulogu koju su u tom razvoju imali matematika i filozofija (metafizika i epistemologija).
U prvom su dijelu rada izložena postignuća antičke astronomije, pri čemu je posebno izdvojen Aristotelov i Ptolemejev doprinos. K tomu, istaknuta su i osnovna načela, problemi, metode i distinkcije karakteristične za antičku astronomiju: postulat jednolikog kružnog kretanja, problem retrogradnih kretanja planeta, metoda spašavanja fenomena, dioba svemira na sublunarno i supralunarno područje te razlika između matematičke i fizikalne astronomije. Ukratko je analizirana i filozofska pozadina tih načela, problema, metoda i distinkcija.
U drugom je dijelu rada ukratko izložen razvoj astronomije tijekom srednjega vijeka, s posebnim naglaskom na distinkciju između matematičke i fizikalne astronomije.
Završni odsječci rada posvećeni su Koperniku, Kepleru, Galileju i Newtonu. Kad je o Koperniku riječ, posebna je pozornost posvećena problemu shvaća li Kopernik svoj heliocentrični sustav samo kao matematičku ili ujedno i kao fizikalnu astronomiju. Što se Keplera tiče, istaknuto je njegovo napuštanje postulata jednolikog kružnog kretanja. U vezi s Galilejem, istaknuta je važnost njegovih promatranja i otkrića teleskopom, posebno njegovo otkriće Venerinih mijena. Na koncu, kad je o Newtonu riječ, istaknuta je ključna uloga njegove mehanike, koja je rezultirala posve novim shvaćanjem nebeskih tijela i njihovih kretanja, tj. radikalno novom astronomijom (kako u fizikalnom, tako i u matematičkom pogledu), u kojoj ne samo da je napušten postulat jednolikog kružnog kretanja i Ptolemejev geocentrični sustav nego je i tradicionalna fizika zamijenjena radikalno novim shvaćanjem sile, koje je neizbježno učinilo diobu svemira na sublunarno i supralunarno područje neodrživom, rezultirajući tako posve novom slikom svemira. |
| Abstract (english) | The paper provides an overview of the development of astronomy from ancient times to the seventeenth century inclusively, especially with regard to the roles played by mathematics and philosophy (metaphysics and epistemology) in that development.
In the first section of the paper, the achievements of ancient astronomy are presented, with special attention being paid to Aristotle's and Ptolemy's contribution to its development. In addition, the fundamental principles, problems, methods and distinctions characteristic of ancient astronomy are foregrounded: the postulate of uniform circular motion, the problem of the retrograde motion of the planets, the method of saving the phenomena, the division of the universe into the sublunar and the supralunar regions, and the difference between mathematical and physical astronomy. The philosophical background of these principles, problems, methods and distinctions is briefly analysed.
In the second section of the paper, the development of astronomy during the Middle Ages is briefly presented, with special emphasis given to the distinction between mathematical and physical astronomy.
The final sections of the paper are dedicated to Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. When it comes to Copernicus, special attention is paid to the problem of whether Copernicus understands his heliocentric system only as mathematical or also as physical astronomy. As for Kepler, his abandonment of the postulate of uniform circular motion is highlighted. As to Galileo, the importance of his telescopic observations and discoveries, especially his discovery of the phases of Venus, are emphasised. Finally, when it comes to Newton, the key role of his mechanics is foregrounded, which resulted in a completely new understanding of celestial bodies and their movements, i. e. in a fundamentally new astronomy (both in physical and mathematical terms), in which not only the postulate of uniform circular motion and Ptolemy's geocentric system were abandoned, but also traditional physics was replaced by a radically new understanding of force, which inevitably rendered the division of the universe into the sublunar and the supralunar regions untenable, thereby resulting in a completely new picture of the universe. |
