The Electric Theory of Astronomy (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1886 Excerpt: ... Chapter XII. DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW THEORY OF ASTRONOMY. IT must be borne in mind by the reader that the subject of this work first engaged the attention of the author in the year 1834, more than fifty years ago, as has been seen in the preface, and that from time to time a part of the theory was given to the public for the purpose of eliciting investigation and criticism, and that finally the subject was brought before the readers of Wilford's Microcosm, where a mere outline view was presented, sufficient, however, to give to the readers of that paper, if so disposed, an opportunity to call in question the correctness of the doctrines and principles presented. There were, however, no objections urged, except by the editor. The substance of these criticisms will be embodied and answered in a succeeding chapter. To revolutionize the opinions of the enlightened world and the doctrines of the schools is a work of time and patience which the history of the changes in all past ages demonstrates to be exceedingly difficult. Copernicus, after living seventy years, and having devoted his active life in laboring to overturn the Ptolemaic theory (which had dominated the public mind for centuries), i. c, that the earth was the center of the universe, and that the sun, moon, and stars revolved around it, after seeing the first copy of his able work setting forth the present system, died, in 1543, without having made a single noted convert to his doctrines. Twenty-eight years and seven months after his death his first noted disciple was born, Johann Kepler, who, after arriving at mature years, espoused the cause of Copernicus. He, with the aid of Galileo, of Italy, succeeded in rescuing the work of Copernicus from oblivion, and establishing...