Review by Choice Review
Independent researcher/philosopher Couprie has extended his doctoral dissertation work on Anaximander (610-547 BCE) to situate him within the context of Greek history and philosophy of astronomy. The introductory chapters on the archaic view of a flat Earth and ancient astronomical instruments are clear expositions. Couprie shows the various steps involving observation and theory that helped the ancients build their vision of how the universe works. He addresses the revolutionary insights of Anaximander: that celestial bodies make full circles and pass under the Earth; that Earth floats free and unsupported in the center of the universe; and that celestial bodies are at varying distances from Earth. These were all important stages that eventually led to the concept of a spherical cosmos and spherical Earth. Since the written evidence is fragmentary and often comes from commentaries rather than original works, nuances lead to various interpretations. Couprie gently produces his arguments, providing comparisons to the opinions of other scholars on many details. Excellent illustrations assist the reader in visualizing the ancient viewpoints. The plethora of detail and the subject matter make this a book most likely to be appreciated by experts rather than general readers. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers and professionals. M.-K. Hemenway University of Texas at Austin
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
