'Misschien is dit de betekenis van deze Schriftpassage: bijbel en rationaliteit bij de copernicaan Georg Joachim Rheticus (1541-1543)

In the early 1540ies G.J. Rheticus wrote an anonymous treatise entitled both Epistola de Terrae Motu and Dissertatio de Hypoth[esibus] Astron[omiae] Copernicanae. In this letter he discusses why proclaiming the motion of the earth does not need to be considered as an impious act incompatible with the words of Holy Scripture. Based on an analysis of authorities mentioned by the author in this letter, I conclude that Rheticus’ strategy on the one hand consists in playing down the importance of the traditional Aristotelian-Ptolemaic notions on the universe in the field of astronomy and by emphasizing the indirect character of Biblical authority in these matters. On the other hand, he claims the absolute, immediate authority of mathematics in astronomy by which he consequently challenges the traditional medieval hierarchy of sciences. Rheticus considers the achievements of Copernicus to be part of divine providence.In the early 1540ies G.J. Rheticus wrote an anonymous treatise entitled both Epistola de Terrae Motu and Dissertatio de Hypoth[esibus] Astron[omiae] Copernicanae. In this letter he discusses why proclaiming the motion of the earth does not need to be considered as an impious act incompatible with the words of Holy Scripture. Based on an analysis of authorities mentioned by the author in this letter, I conclude that Rheticus’ strategy on the one hand consists in playing down the importance of the traditional Aristotelian-Ptolemaic notions on the universe in the field of astronomy and by emphasizing the indirect character of Biblical authority in these matters. On the other hand, he claims the absolute, immediate authority of mathematics in astronomy by which he consequently challenges the traditional medieval hierarchy of sciences. Rheticus considers the achievements of Copernicus to be part of divine providence.A