Studia Historiae Scientiarum

The Activity Report of the PAU Commission on the History of Science in 2023/2024

Michał Kokowski — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The activity of the PAU Commission on the History of Science in the academic year 2023/2024 was discussed.

Lists of scientific meetings, conferences, scientific sessions and seminars as well as new publications were presented.

Geohistorical Structural Design Tables for the Building Stones of the Maltese Archipelago

Lino Bianco — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The engineering properties of building materials are essential knowledge when it comes to structural design. In 1885, the Crown Agents for the Colonies published a study on the resistance of Malta stone to cracking and crushing, in an attempt to develop stress design tables for local masonry. This article addresses the evolution of geological maps in the nineteenth century and, then, introduces the content of this publication. The geological formations described in the latest map are still used to this day. Finally, it discusses the usefulness of these tables in establishing the mechanical properties that Maltese stone can withstand. To identify the quality of the stone discussed in this publication, a geological map available at the time, namely that published by Andrew Leith Adams in 1870, which proved to be moderately accurate, was used. The testing procedures applied followed the accepted laboratory practice at the time. A retrospective analysis of the contents of this publication reveals that the results contained some mathematical errors.

Zwicky as a Pluralist

Alan Heiblum Robles — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Fritz Zwicky is best known to the general public for his scientific work. His methodological views are less known and some of his philosophical ideas did not receive favorable reviews. In other reading, however, Zwicky’s principle of flexibility of scientific truth, which asserts that no scientific statement can be absolute but rather subject to refinements or expansions, shows it as a contribution to epistemic pluralism.

Academician V. H. Serheiev – Control System Designer, Founder of the Scientific and Design School, Honored Citizen of Kharkiv (on His 110th Birthday)

Elena Tverytnykova, Olena Voitiuk — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

March 5, 2024 marks the 110^th birthday of Volodymyr Hryhorovych Serheiev, an outstanding scientist, chief designer of control systems for strategic combat missiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft and transport modules of orbital complexes, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and an Honored Citizen of Kharkiv. Despite his significant scientific achievements in the field of rocket and space engineering, the silhouette of V. H. Serheiev is hardly reflected in the modern history of science.

Based on representative sources, the article highlights the main achievements of the scientist in the field of dynamics of automatic control systems and the design of rocket and space engineering control systems. The summary of the most prominent space projects is based on the memories of witnesses and direct participants.

The personal qualities of V. H. Serheiev as the head of the Special Design Office No. 692 are noted. The historical retrospective describes technical developments and inventions meant to improve the control systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles R-16, R-16У, R-36, R-36П, R-36 orbital, R-36М, R-36М UTTH, UR-100N, UR-100HU, and R-36М2. At the initiative of V. H. Serheiev, complex stands were developed, which worked non-stop in all modes of operation of the necessary equipment and solved complex scientific and technical problems of creating an on-board digital computer. V. H. Serheiev was the chief control system designer of space launch vehicles Kosmos, Kosmos-2, Cyclone-2, and Cyclone-3 and Tselina series spacecraft. The article features innovative solutions implemented under Serheiev’s leadership during the creation of the Energia launch vehicle, supply vehicles of the Almaz space rocket system and target orbital modules of the Saliut and Myr space stations, and international launch vehicles Dnipro, Rokit and Strila.

The article considers the issues of V. H. Serheiev’s direct participation in the organization of the training system for scientific personnel in the relevant specialties at Ukraine’s higher education institutions, as well as the development of international cooperation. It is substantiated that the scientist created one of the leading science and construction schools for the development of control systems for rocket and space technology, which is internationally recognized.

The authors emphasize that V. H. Serheiev devoted a lot of attention to people. At his initiative and with his support, a district named after the founder of aerodynamics, M. Y. Zhukovskyi, was created in Kharkiv for the employees of “Hartron” enterprise. The district was not far from the enterprise and had a well-developed infrastructure, such as kindergartens, schools, shops, a swimming pool and a complex of residential buildings.

The Kitchen and the Dacha: Productive Spaces of Soviet Mathematics

Slava Gerovitch — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

In the late 1960s and 70s, due to the Soviet regime’s crackdown on dissident activities and rising anti-Semitic policies, many mathematicians from “undesirable” groups faced discrimination and serious administrative restrictions on work and study at top-ranking official institutions. To overcome such barriers, the mathematical community built extensive social networks around informal or semi-formal study groups and seminars, which formed a parallel social infrastructure for learning and research. As result, mathematical activity began shifting from public educational and research institutions into private or semi-private settings — family apartments, summer dachas, and countryside walks. For many Soviet mathematicians, instead of being a refuge from work, their home apartments and dachas became their primary working spaces — places where they did their research, met with students, and exchanged ideas with colleagues. At the intersection of work and private life, a tightly knit mathematical community emerged, whose commitment to scholarship went beyond formal duty or required curriculum, a community practicing mathematics as a “way of life.” The parallel social infrastructure functioned in tense interdependency with official institutions and borrowed some characteristics of the official system it opposed.

On Symmetry in Physical Phenomena, Symmetry of an Electric Field and of a Magnetic Field

Pierre Curie; Andrzej Ziółkowski (translation and commentary) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

In this work, the classical concept of symmetry limited to geometric objects (figures and solids), which originated from ancient Greece, has been extended to allow for symmetry studies in other types of objects.

By introducing the concepts of limiting point groups and kinematic elements characteristic for a studied object, it was determined what types of symmetries are exhibited by an electric field and a magnetic field. It was established that in order for a phenomenon to occur, a characteristic symmetry of a medium must be consistent with the characteristic symmetry of the phenomenon occurring in it. It was also determined that the symmetry elements of the causes must be found in the symmetry of their effects.

Some Remarks on the Ancient Sources and Premises of the Theory of Nicolaus Copernicus

Konrad Dydak Rycyk, OFM — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

De revolutionibus [orbium coelestium] by Nicolaus Copernicus was a groundbreaking work for 16^th-century Europe. Copernicus’s cosmological thesis was in some opposition to Ptolemy’s thesis and therefore opinio communis, not without some error, called it the heliocentric theory. It seems that the cosmological thesis should not be understood only as a simple negation of the earlier theory and Copernicus’s good knowledge of Greek metaphysics and cosmology also played its part. So, what were the grounds upon which Copernicus’s philosophy was founded? Can these premises be found in the analyses of the Pythagoreans and Greek mathematicians Aristarchus and Eudoxus? Are such premises provided only by Plato and Aristotle? Is it possible to indicate other Greek sources of Copernicus’s theory? If so, do they really support the claim that the Copernican theory is in fact a forgotten ancient theory?

An attempt to answer these questions is as follows: after a brief presentation of the historical background of the appearance of Copernicus’s theory and its main early theses (Commentariolus), geocentric positions and views in the Middle Ages and their Greek sources will be presented. Next, going back in history, views and positions which underlie the non-geocentric cosmology will be presented, also those that were recalled and recorded by Copernicus in his treatises. Finally, there will be presented and analyzed — though probably unknown to Copernicus — philosophical and cosmological positions and views, which in Greek thinking, even at its beginnings, may constitute loci philosophici, the premises and sources of non-geocentric cosmology.

Copernicus and Copernicans: Galileo, Kepler, Bruno

Ünsal Çimen — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Copernicus claimed the Earth revolves around itself and the Sun. He also claimed that the universe was finite and that no intelligent life existed on other planets. Galileo and Kepler shared these claims; therefore, they deserve to be called Copernicans. But what about Giordano Bruno? He adopted Hermetic philosophy and opposed Copernicus’s mathematical (geometric) method; he also claimed, unlike Copernicus, that the universe was infinite and that there were intelligent life forms on other planets. So, can we define Bruno and those who thought like him as Copernicans? Ernan McMullin answers this question in the negative. In this paper, I will argue that the differences between Bruno and Copernicus mentioned by McMullin cannot be used as criteria for claiming that Bruno and others who thought like him were not Copernicans; instead, I argue that believing the Earth rotates around itself and the Sun should be considered sufficient to call someone a Copernican.

An Introduction to the Topic ‘Copernicus and Astrology’. A Commentary on the Theses of Robert S. Westman

Michał Kokowski — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article is an introduction to the subject of Copernicus and astrology. It presents an overview of a set of facts and positions of researchers exploring the relevant ideas of Copernicus, as well as the author’s own perspective. A key role is played by a critique of R.S. Westman’s theses.

Wprowadzenie do tematyki ‘Kopernik a astrologia’. Komentarz do tez Roberta S. Westmana

Michał Kokowski — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article is an introduction to the subject of “Copernicus and astrology”. An overview of the set of facts and positions of researchers of Copernicus’s thought related to this topic is presented, as well as the author’s position. A key role is played by the criticism of R.S. Westman’s theses.

Was Copernicus an Astrologer?

George Borski, Ivan Kolkov — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The question ‘Was Copernicus an astrologer’ is prima facie very clear, while in fact being quite ambiguous. This question should rather be regarded as a vast topic covering lots of more concise questions such as ‘Was Copernicus thoroughly educated in astrology?’, ‘Did Copernicus believe in astrology?’ or ‘Did a mature Copernicus practice astrology?’

Unfortunately, thus far, consensus has not been achieved among historians on any of them. Accordingly, the topic has been for some time, and still is, a battlefield of the most acrimonious debates in Copernicology, nay, perhaps in the whole history of science.

Carefully made distinctions and subsequent analysis of the common pro et contra arguments enabled this paper to arbitrate the different perspectives. None of the arguments has been found to have a decisive force. In general, while the pro lines of reasoning are normally based upon insecure or even faulty inductive logic, their contra counterparts often suffer from ex silentio inferences or even ad ignorantiam fallacy.

Two new, subtle arguments have been introduced instead. They can be considered as genuine new evidence allowing for the resolution of some lingering doubts. First, the natal charts of Copernicus that were cast in the middle of the 16^th century have been studied. The excessively exact birth hour of Copernicus at 4:48 PM has quite naturally been expected to be a result of a preliminary astrological rectification. However, apparently it was not rectified by the algorithms most popular at the time. The findings suggest the number-symbolic rather than astrological inclinations of Copernicus.

Further, a careful analysis of Copernicus’s annotations in the Alfonsine Tables revealed a link between the misprints corrected by him and the ancient observations he included in De Revolutionibus. Consequently, an extensive astrological use of the tables by him can be excluded with a high probability. Moreover, Copernicus likely never used Regiomontanus Tables on a regular basis either.

The conclusion integrates all the available arguments pertinent to the relationship of Copernicus with astrology.

Was Copernicus an Astrologer? From the Perspective of a Historian of Astrology

Sylwia Konarska-Zimnicka — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Nicolaus Copernicus’s achievements in the field of astronomy are widely known and undisputed, but few people know that he also studied astrology – in his time recognised as a science and a subject of academic lectures. Evidence of this activity, though scarce, is preserved in the margins of one of the popular astrological treatises of the 15th and 16th centuries, which was owned by Nicolaus Copernicus. Thanks to these marginal notes it is possible to undertake a consideration of the scale and reasons for the involvement of the astronomer in the exploration of astrology.

Andrzej Trzciński’s Enlightenment Concept of Science in Uwagi na Rozprawę o krytyce Stanisława Kostki Potockiego [Remarks on Stanisław Kostka Potocki’s Treatise on Critique]

Milena Cygan — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article discusses the concept of science proposed by Andrzej Trzciński (1749–1823), a Krakow professor of physics during the Enlightenment era. In 1811, he published Uwagi na Rozprawę o krytyce Stanisława Kostki Potockiego [Remarks on Stanisław Kostka Potocki’s Treatise on Critique]. Typically, this text has been perceived by researchers as insignificant, malicious remarks directed at Potocki (1755–1821) and his dissertation.

The aim of this article is to show that behind the arguments presented in Uwagi... lies a vision of science, as well as culture and art, distinct from Potocki’s.

Firstly, the article introduces the Krakow scholar and explains why he remains relatively unknown. Then, based on an analysis of Uwagi... and comparisons with Potocki’s Critique, it indicates that Trzciński was an advocate of empiricism, a critic of classicism (advocated by Potocki), and a scholar who drew inspiration from sentimentalism and the views of J. J. Rousseau. True to Enlightenment ideals, Trzciński advocated research into Nature, believing that the natural sciences take precedence over other disciplines because they are useful (by facilitating life, improving the quality of life, and serving the common good). Fine arts and aesthetics, according to Trzciński, are reserved for the few and bring limited benefits to society, primarily providing pleasure and entertainment.

Moreover, the article also raises the issue of Polish scientific and academic language.

Pharmacy in Polish Pharmaceutical Calendars around 1900. Introduction to Research

Anna Żuk — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Around 1900, calendars were sometimes the only source of information about the world for people. Pharmaceutical calendars in Polish were published from 1878.

Currently, documentation on calendars is modest, although they were very popular publications with a wide range of topics and a high level of editing, even though they have not yet lived up to a precise bibliological definition.

Calendars published in Polish for pharmacists, first in Lviv and then in Warsaw, from 1878 until the outbreak of World War I, were rarely mentioned in scientific papers (the last pharmaceutical calendar from this period was published in 1914).

The aim of this work is to show the pharmacy at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, based on information contained in calendars in the collection of the Museum of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University CM in Krakow, since these calendars are a valuable and rich source of knowledge about that period.

The calendars examined in this paper were published between 1878 and 1914 in Lviv and Warsaw. These were the times of Partitions of Poland. The calendars contained scientific articles, manuscripts, lists of pharmacies and pharmacists running Polish pharmacies, advertisements, tables and lists.

The pharmaceutical calendars were an important source of expertise for pharmacists of the time, as access to pharmaceutical textbooks was limited. Pharmaceutical calendars enabled pharmacists to carry out their work in accordance with the law, the advertisements contained in the calendars made it easier to supply pharmacies with necessary products, and the lists of Polish pharmacists and pharmacies operating in different parts of the inexistent country not only enabled contact between them, but also strengthened a sense of patriotism and mobilized them to work tenaciously together for the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry and the rebirth of Poland.

The Ukrainian Borrowing Kołtun in Polish Medical Terminology

Lucyna Agnieszka Jankowiak — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Kołtun (Latin: Plica polonica) as a medical and linguistic-cultural phenomenon has already been the topic of many publications. This article concerns a hitherto undescribed aspect in the development of this lexeme, that is its presence in Polish medical terminology, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Kołtun, a word borrowed from Ukrainian in the 16th century in the meaning of disease, immediately acquired the status of a medical term. It is an example of a word which, for non-linguistic reasons (such a disease entity disappeared from official medicine), eventually loses the status of a scientific term. The analysis of materials from various dictionaries (mainly medical ones) and from the medical literature also reveals that kołtun lost the status of a scientific term much later (1st half of the 20th century) than it ceased to be treated as a disease entity or symptom by the scientific community (2nd half of the 19th century).

Kraków Center of Research on Cultural History around 1900

Maria Stinia — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The formation of cultural history as an independent scientific discipline in Kraków took place around 1900. Cracovian scholars remained closely connected with the achievements of European thought, but due to the fact that Poland had been stripped of its statehood, they had to define their own goals. In the circles of historians and historians of literature, the focus was on documenting the achievements of civilization in terms of the most important issues of the time, which were considered to be the recognition of the close connection of Polish culture with European culture, a reminder of the most important achievements in the field of literature and the history of educational institutions, especially universities. Thus, the focus was on the achievements of the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods. There were also original concepts of the history of civilization by Feliks Koneczny. As a result of research and interdisciplinary cooperation between the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Jagiellonian University, it was possible to establish the first university chair of cultural history in the Polish lands.

The Reception of Neptune’s Discovery in British and American Protestant Theology

Zenon Roskal, Jacek Rodzeń — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, first theoretically and then observationally, was a 19^th-century event that went beyond the interests of the narrow group of astronomers of the time. Indeed, the significance of this event is still a subject of interest among historians and philosophers of science. During the period discussed, natural theology played a special cognitive and social role, forming the basis for arguments based on the new knowledge of nature. This article discusses how the discovery of Neptune was received among the community of 19^th-century British and American Protestant theologians, who were always open to scientific research and discoveries.

The Evolutionary Transformation of the Journal. Part 11

Michał Kokowski — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article outlines the eleventh phase of the development of the journal Studia Historiae Scientiarum (previously Prace Komisji Historii Nauki PAU / Proceedings of the PAU Commission on the History of Science).Information is provided on the following: the journal’s evaluation by the ICI Master Journal List 2022 (released at the end of 2023), the evaluation by the CWTS Journal Indicators 2023 (5 June 2024), the evaluation by the SCImago Journal Rankings 2023 (based on the data from Scopus released in April 2024), the evaluation by Scopus 2023 (released on 5 June 2024), , the evaluation by the PN IHN PAN 2023 (released on 5 October 2023), and the evaluation by Web of Science.

Additionally, the number of foreign authors and reviewers of the current volume of the journal is quoted.

Reflections on the Importance of the Leonhardi Euleri Opera Omnia, Volume IV A (2016) and Volume VIII (2018)

Stanisław Domoradzki, Mykhailo Zarichnyi — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article is devoted to two volumes of Leonhard Euler’s correspondence with mathematicians and other scientists.

The first of these volumes (in two parts) is devoted to correspondence with Christian Goldbach. We consider selected topics from this correspondence reflecting various branches of mathematics and demonstrate, where possible, the connection of the ideas and results presented there with modern mathematical research.

The second of these two volumes contains Euler’s correspondence with scholars associated with the University of Halle. These letters, with a small exception, have less mathematical content, but allow to create an impression of academic life at that time.