McClellan discusses the questions concerning continuities versus discontinuities in late medieval
and early modern history and the history of science. He says that: “for the present we can refer to
a middle-ground interpretation of the condemnation of 1277 which sees its effect neither as
wholly squelching scientific inquiry nor as launching the Scientific Revolution outright.”
According to this interpretation, what were the most important outcomings of the condemnation
of 1277 in
a) physics and
b) astronomy
Summarize his explanations and arguments.
Sample Solution
a) Physics: The condemnation of 1277 had the effect of clarifying and articulating certain physical principles that had previously been studied in a more informal manner. The Aristotelian approach to physics was affirmed, with its emphasis on qualitative rather than quantitative descriptions of reality. This provided a clear framework for understanding the nature of physical phenomena.
b) Astronomy: In astronomy, the condemnation helped to solidify Ptolemaic cosmology as the accepted standard view and reaffirmed Aristotelian notions about celestial spheres and their role in astronomical calculations. This enabled astronomers to use traditional methods for predicting eclipses and other celestial events, but it also limited exploration into alternative theories about planetary motion or heliocentrism.