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He also openly criticized the lack of evidence of other claims made by Ptolemy, such as the very existence of retrograde motion. He argued that if two celestial bodies were moving around the same center, then there is no logical reason for them to be orbiting in different directions.
A theory which suggests that the center of the universe is either at or near the Earth.
A theory which suggests that the center of the universe is either at or near the Sun.
Like modern scientists, Ibn Bajja felt that epicycles were simply bad science. He criticized that they were an explanation not based on evidence and that they weren't satisfactory.
The story of Copernicus is one that most people know. A long time ago, everyone thought the Earth was the center of the universe until a guy named Copernicus came and changed everything with his heliocentric model of the universe. It's a theory that was a hallmark in human development. We were beginning to understand the world a bit.
Epicycle- A revolution which occurs within the normal orbit of a planet.
Prograde Motion- the motion of a planet in the same direction as other nearby celestial bodies.
Retrograde Motion- the movement o fa planet in the opposite direction as other nearby celestial bodies.
It is impossible to have a
discussion on astronomy without bringing up these two, Ptolemy and Copernicus. Both famous for their planetary models, the general story dictating that one was the paradigm altering theorist who invalidated the other.
Because of the powerful impact this theory had on the people's understanding of the universe and the fact that it was in contrast to church teachings, this could also be marked as the beginning of the loss of intellectual ground of religious institutions.
This is also an important topic within the history of science as it is marked as the first major paradigm change of modern European science and marked the slow beginning of the modern scientific age.
Within the Islamic culture which was so scientifically prosperous came a brilliant scientist by the name of Ibn Bajja.
Ptolemy suggested a geocentric universe in which apparent retrograde motion could be explained by the existence of epicycles.
Muslim science originates with the seeking and translating of the ancient Greek philosophical texts of Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. A massive university/library structure formed in the heart of Baghdad as a result: The House of Wisdom
Before we dive into Ibn Bajja's criticisms of the geocentric model, let's have an explanation as to what it is.
Islamic Astronomy and Medieval Spain by Julio Samso
Isis, Vol. 86, No. 3 (Sep., 1995), pp. 475-476
Late Medieval Planetary Theory
E. S. Kennedy
Isis, Vol. 57, No. 3 (Autumn, 1966), pp. 365-37
The Andalusian Revolt Against Ptolemaic Astronomy. Sabra, A.I.
He felt that the geocentric model for the universe, which was the common narrative at the time, did not hold up to scientific scrutiny when closely examined.
Copernicus didn't magically contemplate the heliocentric theory of the universe one day. His theory was based heavily on findings from Middle Eastern astronomers who had already behun to question the validity of the geocentric paradigm.
Ptolemy's theory was fairly sound based on the evidence presented to him in his lifetime. With the perceived stationary status of the Earth, the apparent retrograde motion of the smaller planets within the solar system, and the lack of a substantial theory of gravity to explain what binds the planets together.
A man of many talents, Ibn Bajja studied a variety of academic disciplines within his life. He was a physician, and astronomer, a botanist, a musician, a poet, and a philosopher.
This introduction to doubt of the established planetary theory resulted in further research being conducted. It was this doubt, this lack of certainty, which influenced Copernicus to attempt to understand the nature of the planets and publish his heliocentric theory.
As this event is presented in most history and even many astronomy classes, it would appear that this occured as an isolated event outside the sinfluence of other cultures within the time, however the heliocentric theory was very highly influenced by Middle Eastern scholars, especially Ibn Bajja(Avempace).
It is a common misconception that science was born in Europe and had not existed prior to the establishment of the modern scientific method. Though this is true in the strictest of senses, all societies had a need for understanding the natural world and had employed various for scientific methodology long before Copernicus.