Conceptions of Cosmos: From Myths to the Accelerating Universe: A History of Cosmology

by Helge Kragh

This book is a historical account of how natural philosophers and scientists have endeavoured to understand the universe at large, first in a mythical and later in a scientific context. Starting with the creation stories of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the book covers all the major events in theoretical and observational cosmology, from Aristotle's cosmos over the Copernican revolution to the discovery of the accelerating universe in the late 1990s. It presents cosmology as a subject including scientific as well as non-scientific dimensions, and tells the story of how it developed into a true science of the heavens. Contrary to most other books in the history of cosmology, it offers an integrated account of the development with emphasis on the modern Einsteinian and post-Einsteinian period. Starting in the pre-literary era, it carries the story onwards to the early years of the 21st century.

Genres: Science, History, Philosophy, Physics, Nonfiction, History Of Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Helge Stjernholm Kragh is a Danish historian of science.
Kragh studied mathematics and physics at the University of Copenhagen before obtaining his PhD in 1981 at the University of Roskilde. He is a professor at the Centre for Science Studies of Aarhus University.

Kragh's areas of study are the history of physics from the mid-19th century onward, the history of astronomy, the history of cosmology and the history of chemistry.

Reviews

[Xander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kragh presents a comprehensive yet speedy overview on humankinds conceptions of the cosmos. He does this in a very attractive way: skipping the nonsensical animistic forms (just skimming some more intellectual ones) and speeding it up until he reaches the 20th century. This is the moment in history when in less than a century our view of the cosmos has changed so dramatically and radically, that its worth more than half the book.

Kragh deals with the different theories and versions of theories in their historical perspective and doesn't shy away of sketching philosophical implications. This is an excellent book or anyone interested in cosmology (or history of science in general), but some prior knowledge of physics, astronomy and cosmology is necessary in order to be able to fully comprehend this book.

On a sidenote: this book stimulated me to read more of Kragh - one of the best writers on physics I have come across (Gerald Holton's textbooks come close).

[Miles Trujillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a very informative, well written, and objective introduction to the history of Cosmology. I would recommend.

[Ahmed Sanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

During different astronomical workshop some time I use to present a lecture titled 'Changing Vision of the Cosmos'. The most amazing part of this book is its contents similar as my lecture presentation topics. When I found I just said, WOW! :P