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> But I'm a bit puzzled when Bill writes-
>
>> Around 1377 Oresme wrote his Traiti? du ciel et du monde, a French
>> translation and commentary of Aristotle's De caelo et mundo, in which he
>> again discussed the circumnavigator's paradox.
>
> Is he saying here that it was originally Aristotle, before Oresme, who had
> posed and resolved the circumnavigator's paradox?

George

I only wish my writing was a scholarly.  The entire piece after my forward,
complete with alternate or misspellings, was copied directly from the
internet.

But your keen observation does raise a very interesting question.  The
articles first line is, "What appears to be the earliest reference to the
circumnavigator?s paradox is found in the works of the Syrian prince and
geographer-historian Isma?il ibn...."

Later we have the passage you quoted, which would indicated--if I read it
correctly--that indeed Aristotle's De caelo et mundo broached the topic.
The only other possibility I can see is if the "commentary" content of
Oresme's  Traiti? du ciel et du monde built on something in Aristotle's work
not explicitly put forward by Aristotle, but now clear in the light of Abu
?l-Fida's observations.  It would be interesting to learn if any of the list
is familiar with either of the works, and can help determine where the first
recorded reference originated.

Bill

   

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