Question
ANALYZE THE SOURCE
VOCABULARY
conceive: imagine
ascribe: assign
meditations: thoughts
laity: church
congregation
foreign: not related to
orthodoxy: custom
assert: declare,
defend
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do new ideas change
the way people live?
“
TO POPE PAUL III
I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people
learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions
of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they
will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected. For I am
not so much in love with my conclusions as not to weigh what others
will think about them, and although I know that the meditations of a
philosopher are far removed from the judgment of the laity, because
his endeavor is to seek out the truth in all things, so far as this is
permitted by God to the human reason, I still believe that one must
avoid theories altogether foreign to orthodoxy. Accordingly, when I
considered in my own mind how absurd a performance it must seem
to those who know that the judgment of many centuries has
approved the view that the Earth remains fixed as center in the midst
of the heavens, if I should, on the contrary, assert that the Earth
moves.
”
— Nicolaus Copernicus, On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies, 1543
PRIMARY SOURCE: BOOK PREFACE
Copernicus’s Explanation to
the Pope
CHAPTER 10 • LESSON 3
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt and answer the
accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus
disagreed with the belief held by the Roman Catholic Church that
Earth was the center of the universe. In the preface to his book
On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies (1543), Copernicus addresses
Pope Paul III.
246 It’s All Online!
1 SUMMARIZING What does Copernicus think the reaction of most people will be to
his theory?
2 DETERMINING CONTEXT What does Copernicus mean when he says his thoughts are
“far removed from the judgment of the laity?”
3 IDENTIFYING PERSPECTIVES Why is the phrase “so far as this is permitted by God to
the human reason” significant?
4 PREDICTING How do you think the Roman Catholic Church reacted to
Copernicus’s book?
Chapter 10 247
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education
ANALYZE THE SOURCE
VOCABULARY
devout: serious,
heartfelt
supplicating: praying,
appealing, begging
dost: does
promote: encourage
exulted: rejoice
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do new ideas change
the way people live?
“
It now remains that at last, with my eyes and hands removed from
the tablet of demonstrations and lifted up towards the heavens,
I should pray, devout and supplicating, to the Father of lights: O Thou
Who dost by the light of nature promote in us the desire for the light
of grace, that by its means Thou mayest transport us into the light of
glory, I give thanks to Thee, O Lord Creator, Who hast delighted me
with Thy makings and in the works of Thy hands have I exulted.
Behold! now, I have completed the work of my profession, having
employed as much power of mind as Thou didst give to me. . . .
”
— Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of the World, 1619
PRIMARY SOURCE: BOOK
Kepler’s Prayer
CHAPTER 10 • LESSON 3
1 ANALYZING Who is Kepler speaking to in this excerpt? What
message does he share?
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt written by German
astronomer Johannes Kepler and answer the accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Using mathematics, Kepler supported
Copernicus’s theory that the planets revolved around the sun, not
Earth. He also proposed other ideas regarding planets and how they
moved. Devoted to his work, Kepler’s efforts are considered the
beginning of modern astronomy.
248 It’s All Online!
2 DESCRIBING Describe the mood of the excerpt.
3 EXPLAINING How does Kepler link God and the natural world?
4 COMPARING In addition to their theories, what do Kepler and Copernicus have in
common? Use the excerpt from Copernicus’s On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies to
help you.
anser like a 14 year old would with no puctoation
VOCABULARY
conceive: imagine
ascribe: assign
meditations: thoughts
laity: church
congregation
foreign: not related to
orthodoxy: custom
assert: declare,
defend
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do new ideas change
the way people live?
“
TO POPE PAUL III
I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people
learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions
of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they
will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected. For I am
not so much in love with my conclusions as not to weigh what others
will think about them, and although I know that the meditations of a
philosopher are far removed from the judgment of the laity, because
his endeavor is to seek out the truth in all things, so far as this is
permitted by God to the human reason, I still believe that one must
avoid theories altogether foreign to orthodoxy. Accordingly, when I
considered in my own mind how absurd a performance it must seem
to those who know that the judgment of many centuries has
approved the view that the Earth remains fixed as center in the midst
of the heavens, if I should, on the contrary, assert that the Earth
moves.
”
— Nicolaus Copernicus, On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies, 1543
PRIMARY SOURCE: BOOK PREFACE
Copernicus’s Explanation to
the Pope
CHAPTER 10 • LESSON 3
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt and answer the
accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus
disagreed with the belief held by the Roman Catholic Church that
Earth was the center of the universe. In the preface to his book
On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies (1543), Copernicus addresses
Pope Paul III.
246 It’s All Online!
1 SUMMARIZING What does Copernicus think the reaction of most people will be to
his theory?
2 DETERMINING CONTEXT What does Copernicus mean when he says his thoughts are
“far removed from the judgment of the laity?”
3 IDENTIFYING PERSPECTIVES Why is the phrase “so far as this is permitted by God to
the human reason” significant?
4 PREDICTING How do you think the Roman Catholic Church reacted to
Copernicus’s book?
Chapter 10 247
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education
ANALYZE THE SOURCE
VOCABULARY
devout: serious,
heartfelt
supplicating: praying,
appealing, begging
dost: does
promote: encourage
exulted: rejoice
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do new ideas change
the way people live?
“
It now remains that at last, with my eyes and hands removed from
the tablet of demonstrations and lifted up towards the heavens,
I should pray, devout and supplicating, to the Father of lights: O Thou
Who dost by the light of nature promote in us the desire for the light
of grace, that by its means Thou mayest transport us into the light of
glory, I give thanks to Thee, O Lord Creator, Who hast delighted me
with Thy makings and in the works of Thy hands have I exulted.
Behold! now, I have completed the work of my profession, having
employed as much power of mind as Thou didst give to me. . . .
”
— Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of the World, 1619
PRIMARY SOURCE: BOOK
Kepler’s Prayer
CHAPTER 10 • LESSON 3
1 ANALYZING Who is Kepler speaking to in this excerpt? What
message does he share?
DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt written by German
astronomer Johannes Kepler and answer the accompanying questions.
EXPLORE THE CONTEXT: Using mathematics, Kepler supported
Copernicus’s theory that the planets revolved around the sun, not
Earth. He also proposed other ideas regarding planets and how they
moved. Devoted to his work, Kepler’s efforts are considered the
beginning of modern astronomy.
248 It’s All Online!
2 DESCRIBING Describe the mood of the excerpt.
3 EXPLAINING How does Kepler link God and the natural world?
4 COMPARING In addition to their theories, what do Kepler and Copernicus have in
common? Use the excerpt from Copernicus’s On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies to
help you.
anser like a 14 year old would with no puctoation
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
1. Copernicus thinks that most people will react negatively to his theory and will likely reject it because it goes against what they have always believed about the Earth being the center of the universe.
2. When Copernicus says his thoughts are “far removed from the judgment of the laity” he means that ordinary people who are not philosophers or scientists might not understand or accept his ideas because they rely on what has been traditionally taught rather than on new scientific reasoning.
3. The phrase “so far as this is permitted by God to the human reason” is significant because it suggests that he believes that human understanding and reason have limits and that ultimately, any true understanding must come from God which shows a connection between faith and reason.
4. I think the Roman Catholic Church probably reacted negatively to Copernicus's book at first since it challenged their teachings about the universe and they might have been concerned about how this new idea would affect people’s faith and beliefs.
2. When Copernicus says his thoughts are “far removed from the judgment of the laity” he means that ordinary people who are not philosophers or scientists might not understand or accept his ideas because they rely on what has been traditionally taught rather than on new scientific reasoning.
3. The phrase “so far as this is permitted by God to the human reason” is significant because it suggests that he believes that human understanding and reason have limits and that ultimately, any true understanding must come from God which shows a connection between faith and reason.
4. I think the Roman Catholic Church probably reacted negatively to Copernicus's book at first since it challenged their teachings about the universe and they might have been concerned about how this new idea would affect people’s faith and beliefs.