Patrick J Boner
Patrick J. Boner has written widely on the history of science in early modern Europe. His current research concentrates on core issues in early modern astrology and astronomy, while considering the wider context of science and religion in the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. His publication record revolves around the cosmological crisis of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, particularly the role that celestial novelties played in the debates raging among astrologers, astronomers, and many other mathematical and medical authors.
Boner challenges our notion of Johannes Kepler as a nascent mechanical philosopher in his book, Kepler’s Cosmological Synthesis (2013). By focusing on the forgotten consequence of vitalistic principles in early modern cosmology, Boner shows that Kepler called on Aristotle and other biological authorities of his day to account for newly accepted forms of change in the heavens in the same way they explained life on earth. His case extends to contemporaries such as Galileo, who defined sunspots as “signs of change” that suggested a larger cycle of decay and renewal in the world.
Boner is now building on his book to assess the flood of literature that followed the appearance of the new star of 1604. He is especially interested in the web of authors across the Holy Roman Empire who debated and discussed the novelties they observed in the sky through personal letters and publications. By assessing the wide variety of voices that announced their interpretations and observations, Boner aims to frame the first-ever English translation of Kepler’s On the New Star (1606) with an extensive introduction, notes and epilogue.
Address: Washington, DC, United States
Boner challenges our notion of Johannes Kepler as a nascent mechanical philosopher in his book, Kepler’s Cosmological Synthesis (2013). By focusing on the forgotten consequence of vitalistic principles in early modern cosmology, Boner shows that Kepler called on Aristotle and other biological authorities of his day to account for newly accepted forms of change in the heavens in the same way they explained life on earth. His case extends to contemporaries such as Galileo, who defined sunspots as “signs of change” that suggested a larger cycle of decay and renewal in the world.
Boner is now building on his book to assess the flood of literature that followed the appearance of the new star of 1604. He is especially interested in the web of authors across the Holy Roman Empire who debated and discussed the novelties they observed in the sky through personal letters and publications. By assessing the wide variety of voices that announced their interpretations and observations, Boner aims to frame the first-ever English translation of Kepler’s On the New Star (1606) with an extensive introduction, notes and epilogue.
Address: Washington, DC, United States
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Books by Patrick J Boner
Contributors are: (1) Dario Tessicini, (2) Christopher M. Graney, (3) Javier Luna, (4) Patrick J. Boner, (5) Jonathan Regier, (6) Aviva Rothman, (7) Miguel Á. Granada, (8) Pietro Daniel Omodeo, (9) Matteo Cosci, and (10) William P. Blair.
https://brill.com/view/title/57505
Starting with a new approach to the issue of the presence of Islamic astronomical devices in Copernicus’ work and a thorough reappraisal of the cosmological views of Paracelsus, the book deals mainly with the abolition of cosmological dualism and the ways in which it affected the decline of astrology over the 17th century. Other related topics include planetary order and theories of world harmony, the cause of planetary motion in the Tychonic world system or the discussion on comets in Germany through the first presentation of a manuscript treatise by Michael Maestlin on the great comet of 1618.
Papers by Patrick J Boner
Contributors are: (1) Dario Tessicini, (2) Christopher M. Graney, (3) Javier Luna, (4) Patrick J. Boner, (5) Jonathan Regier, (6) Aviva Rothman, (7) Miguel Á. Granada, (8) Pietro Daniel Omodeo, (9) Matteo Cosci, and (10) William P. Blair.
https://brill.com/view/title/57505
Starting with a new approach to the issue of the presence of Islamic astronomical devices in Copernicus’ work and a thorough reappraisal of the cosmological views of Paracelsus, the book deals mainly with the abolition of cosmological dualism and the ways in which it affected the decline of astrology over the 17th century. Other related topics include planetary order and theories of world harmony, the cause of planetary motion in the Tychonic world system or the discussion on comets in Germany through the first presentation of a manuscript treatise by Michael Maestlin on the great comet of 1618.