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内容简介
Thecareerofthefamousmanwhosenamestandsattheheadofthischapterisoneofthemostremarkableinthehistoryofhumanlearning.TheremayhavebeenotherdiscovererswhohavedonemoreforsciencethaneverPtolemyaccomplished,butthereneverhasbeenanyotherdiscovererwhoseauthorityonthesubjectofthemovementsoftheheavenlybodieshasheldswayoverthemindsofmenforsolongaperiodasthefourteencenturiesduringwhichhisopinionsreignedsupreme.Thedoctrineshelaiddowninhisfamousbook,TheAlmagest,prevailedthroughoutthoseages.Nosubstantialadditionwasmadeinallthattimetotheundoubtedtruthswhichthisworkcontained.NoimportantcorrectionwasmadeoftheseriouserrorswithwhichPtolemy'stheorieswerecontaminated.TheauthorityofPtolemyastoallthingsintheheavens,andastoagoodmanythingsontheearth(forthesameillustriousmanwasalsoadiligentgeographer),wasinvariablyfinal.
ThougheverychildmaynowknowmoreoftheactualtruthsofthecelestialmotionsthaneverPtolemyknew,yetthefactthathisworkexercisedsuchanastonishingeffectonthehumanintellectforsomesixtygenerations,showsthatitmusthavebeenanextraordinaryproduction.Wemustlookintothecareerofthiswonderfulmantodiscoverwhereinlaythesecretofthatmarvelloussuccesswhichmadehimtheunchallengedinstructorofthehumanraceforsuchaprotractedperiod. |
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发表于 2026-6-16 23:59:33
