Galileo's Muse by Mark A Peterson
Mark Peterson makes an extraordinary claim in this fascinating book focused around the life and thought of Galileo: it was the mathematics of Renaissance arts, not Renaissance sciences, that became modern science. Painters, poets, musicians, and architects brought about a scientific revolution that eluded the philosopher-scientists of the day.
Peterson's book portrays Galileo in a wonderfully fresh perspectiveOver several decades I have steeped myself in Galileo biographies, and it's really rare to find an account as intriguing as this one. -- Owen Gingerich
Galileo's Muse explores a wealth of intriguing connections between the arts and the birth of modern science, presented with thought and verve. Mark Peterson's excitement shines through on every page -- Peter Pesic, author of Sky in a Bottle and Labyrinth: A Search for the Hidden Meaning of Science
Galileo's Muse is a brilliant study that lucidly explains the mathematics central to innovations in the Renaissance arts and sciences. Peterson's expertise as a mathematician and physicist gives this book a level of detail and insight that will offer much to historians of art, science, literature alike. -- Arielle Saiber, Associate Professor of Italian, Bowdoin College
Peterson advances the hypothesis that it was the interplay of mathematics in the arts, not the philosophically-bent sciences of the day that evolved into our modern sciences. * Publishers Weekly *
Peterson believes there is a fresh and important story to tell about Galileo's roots in Renaissance humanism. He tells that story well and makes the fascinating argument that Galileo's interest in applied geometry arose not from the study of orthodox philosophy and mathematics but from his interest in the application of geometry to poetry, painting, music and architecture. He makes this case well. -- Paul Monk * The Australian *
Mark A. Peterson takes us on a lively journey...Galileo's Muse is a welcome addition to the growing literature on art and science in the early modern period. -- Alexander Marr * Times Literary Supplement *
Galileo's Muse explores a wealth of intriguing connections between the arts and the birth of modern science, presented with thought and verve. Mark Peterson's excitement shines through on every page -- Peter Pesic, author of Sky in a Bottle and Labyrinth: A Search for the Hidden Meaning of Science
Galileo's Muse is a brilliant study that lucidly explains the mathematics central to innovations in the Renaissance arts and sciences. Peterson's expertise as a mathematician and physicist gives this book a level of detail and insight that will offer much to historians of art, science, literature alike. -- Arielle Saiber, Associate Professor of Italian, Bowdoin College
Peterson advances the hypothesis that it was the interplay of mathematics in the arts, not the philosophically-bent sciences of the day that evolved into our modern sciences. * Publishers Weekly *
Peterson believes there is a fresh and important story to tell about Galileo's roots in Renaissance humanism. He tells that story well and makes the fascinating argument that Galileo's interest in applied geometry arose not from the study of orthodox philosophy and mathematics but from his interest in the application of geometry to poetry, painting, music and architecture. He makes this case well. -- Paul Monk * The Australian *
Mark A. Peterson takes us on a lively journey...Galileo's Muse is a welcome addition to the growing literature on art and science in the early modern period. -- Alexander Marr * Times Literary Supplement *
Mark A. Peterson was Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Mount Holyoke College.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780674059726 |
| ISBN 10 | 0674059727 |
| Title | Galileo's Muse |
| Author | Mark A Peterson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press |
| Year published | 2011-10-17 |
| Number of pages | 352 |
| Prizes | Nominated for PROSE Awards 2011 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |