Monday, October 10, 2005
Journal Entry 3
Journal Entry # 3
During the beginning of the year, I noted in my first journal entry that I respect Copernicus. I admit that, thankful to Koestler, some of that respect has been washed away by knowledge of Copernicus’s fear. I also am angry that his fear is falsely attributed to religious persecution, but I understand this is not Copernicus’s fault.
I still admire Copernicus in the fact that he thought differently from the usual cosmological beliefs of his time. According to Professor Anderson, he saw a problem with Ptolemy’s "equant" and he knew there was a better explanation of the astronomical world. I admire that Copernicus pursued this explanation with passion and diligence.
Having said how I am similar in my previous opinion, I differ greatly too. I thought that Copernicus had the “confidence to stand” but now I see he had no such thing. I sympathize with him to some degree as I am a very sensitive person and Copernicus was also very sensitive. Yet, according to Koestler, because of three tiny things criticisms, Copernicus did not hold the strength to publish his work and findings of the truth. I understand that criticism is scary, yet Copernicus was being preposterous. He was very selfish to sacrifice scientific progress for his own reputation.
Speaking of Copernicus’s selfishness, perhaps the most aggravating detail is that he thought of himself higher than the public and they were too “impure” to find out the truth. This mentality is so selfish and unfruitful. If one does not tell the world the truth, what is the point of knowing it? This is scientific pride and must be broken for the advancement of human thought and knowledge.
Thus, I still respect his search for truth, yet I condemn his long refusal to share his knowledge with the world due to his selfishness.
During the beginning of the year, I noted in my first journal entry that I respect Copernicus. I admit that, thankful to Koestler, some of that respect has been washed away by knowledge of Copernicus’s fear. I also am angry that his fear is falsely attributed to religious persecution, but I understand this is not Copernicus’s fault.
I still admire Copernicus in the fact that he thought differently from the usual cosmological beliefs of his time. According to Professor Anderson, he saw a problem with Ptolemy’s "equant" and he knew there was a better explanation of the astronomical world. I admire that Copernicus pursued this explanation with passion and diligence.
Having said how I am similar in my previous opinion, I differ greatly too. I thought that Copernicus had the “confidence to stand” but now I see he had no such thing. I sympathize with him to some degree as I am a very sensitive person and Copernicus was also very sensitive. Yet, according to Koestler, because of three tiny things criticisms, Copernicus did not hold the strength to publish his work and findings of the truth. I understand that criticism is scary, yet Copernicus was being preposterous. He was very selfish to sacrifice scientific progress for his own reputation.
Speaking of Copernicus’s selfishness, perhaps the most aggravating detail is that he thought of himself higher than the public and they were too “impure” to find out the truth. This mentality is so selfish and unfruitful. If one does not tell the world the truth, what is the point of knowing it? This is scientific pride and must be broken for the advancement of human thought and knowledge.
Thus, I still respect his search for truth, yet I condemn his long refusal to share his knowledge with the world due to his selfishness.
