Astronomy: Science Literacy Library, Science Classics Series

Author: Nicolaus Copernicus (Poland), translated by Ye Shihui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The Classics of Science are monumental landmarks in the history of science and human civilization, as well as an outstanding legacy of human culture. They are immortal works that have stood the test of time. They are not only the crystallization of great scientific achievements but also carriers of scientific spirit, thought, and methods, possessing eternal significance and value... The works included in this series are scientific classics that have undergone sufficient historical scrutiny since the birth of modern science during the Renaissance. To distinguish them from the widely used term "classic" today, we call them "Classics of Science." The "classic" we refer to here is different from what fans call "classic" and also different from the "scientific classics" recited by performing artists. Popular songs favored by fans belong to "contemporary classics," which are actually trendy and the opposite of what we mean by traditional classics. The "scientific classics" recited by performing artists are mostly prose expressing the emotions and life attitudes of scientists, or even dramatic dialogues reflecting scientists' lives. They may be widely known, but whether they belong to classics in the humanities is debatable, and they generally lack scientific content. Not all statements or widely circulated works of renowned scientific masters are classics of science. The "classics of science" we refer to here are the most fundamental and important works among the classics, which are monumental landmarks in the history of human intellect and civilization, carriers of the rational spirit, and possess eternal value. The Classics of Science are either monuments of profound scientific revolutions, frameworks of rigorous scientific systems, or cornerstones of vibrant scientific fields. They are both creative summaries of past scientific achievements and rational foundations for future scientific exploration. Copernicus's De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) is the most revolutionary and soul-stirring work in human history, challenging the geocentric theory that had dominated Western thought for over a thousand years and shaking the astronomical foundations of the "orthodox religion." Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems further argued for Copernicus's theory with conclusive evidence, more directly undermining the Ptolemaic theory protected by the Church. Harvey's On the Motion of the Heart and Blood expounded the theory of blood circulation with a deep concern for both the human body and soul, and with sincere religious emotions, overthrowing the theory of phlogiston, which had also dominated Western thought for over a thousand years and was protected by the "orthodox religion." Descartes's La Géométrie not only founded analytical geometry, which provided the tools for the later development of calculus, but also reflected a philosophical methodology that has influenced generations. Newton's Principia Mathematica marked the apex of the scientific revolution of the century and laid the scientific foundation for the subsequent industrial revolution. The debate between the wave theory represented by Huygens's Traité de la lumière and the corpuscular theory represented by Newton's Opticks lasted for over 200 years. Lavoisier's Elementary Treatise on Chemistry thoroughly elaborated the theory of oxidation, overthrowing the phlogiston theory that had dominated chemistry for over a hundred years, and this intellectual feat is widely recognized as the most conscious scientific revolution in history. Dalton's A New System of Chemical Philosophy laid the foundation for the theory of the structure of matter and ushered in a new era in science, enabling 19th-century chemists to advance systematically into the unknown. Fourier's Théorie analytique de la chaleur broke through the theoretical mechanics framework set by Newton's Principia with its exquisite treatment of heat conduction, opening up a new field in mathematical physics. Darwin's On the Origin of Species introduced the theory of evolution, which, even today in the era of molecular biology, remains a subject of scientific interpretation. Over the past 100 years, it has exerted tangible and intangible influences in nearly all fields of science, society, and humanities. Mendel's Experiments on Plant Hybridization revealed the material basis of the inheritance of hereditary traits, advancing life sciences to the genetic level. Einstein's Relativity: The Special and General Theory and Schr?dinger's Four Lectures on Wave Mechanics respectively explained the laws of motion of the material world in high-speed and microscopic domains, completely transforming the worldview since Newton. Wegener's The Origin of Continents and Oceans proposed the hypothesis of continental drift, providing a new developmental basis for contemporary geoscience. Wiener's Cybernetics revealed the feedback processes in control systems, while Prigogine's From Being to Becoming discovered the mechanism by which systems can transform from disorder to new order. The influence of their ideas today extends far beyond the field of natural sciences, affecting economics, sociology, political science, and other disciplines.