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Introductory remarks
Introductory Remarks JOVES SOLDACZUK
Economic Councillor, Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C. IT IS a great honor and privilege for me to present before this distinguished audience, on behalf of the Polish Ambassador to the United States, the introductory remarks at this session of the Copernicus Commemorative Conference. May I also take this opportunity to express our highest regard and gratitude to you, Mr. Chairman, to members of the organizing committee and to all those who gave freely of their time and effort to prepare and organize this Conference. I would also like to express our gratitude to the distinguished scientists from the U.S.A., and other countries, for their attendance and participation in the Conference, which contributes significantly to the world-wide observance of the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus--one of the greatest Polish astronomers and scientists, whose impact on modern astronomy and physics is well recognized. Since I am not an astronomer or physicist, I do not intend to discuss the scientific achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus. It will be done here by the most prominent specialists in these fields. Let me concentrate briefly on some important biographical facts of the life of Nicolaus Copernicus and on the more general aspects of Copernicus' contributions to human sciences. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torufi in Poland on February 19, 1473 in a burgher's family. Seventy years of his life, and 50 years of intensive studies and practical activities in many fields, were concentrated in a period of great transformation and transition between several epochs--when the feudal system was breaking up, when the humanist rejection of medieval ideals spurred interest in ancient culture,
159
Joves Soldaczuk when reformation in religious beliefs was under way, and when human problems began to take place. The Copernican Theory was developed when Poland was experiencing her "Golden Age" in economical, political and cultural life at the end of the fifteenth and during the sixteenth centuries. It thrived in an atmosphere of the progressive aspirations of the Polish citizens. Torufi, the birthplace of Copernicus, was at that time one of the richest towns in Europe, profiting mainly from overseas trade with Western Europe. Nicolaus Copernicus' father was a merchant involved in trade and politics. He died when his son was about 10 years old. Since Copernicus' maternal uncle took over his support, he was able to enter the Academy of Krakow in 1591. The Academy of Krakow was more than 100 years old at that time and was famous not only for its theology but also for its natural sciences, mathematics, and astronomy, with Wojciech Brudzewski as the most prominent among the astronomers. The Renaissance ideals were established early at the Academy of Krakow, long before Nicolaus Copernicus began his studies there. It was at the Academy that he first became imbued with the ideals of the Renaissance, and it was there also that he became interested in astronomy. Studies at Italian universities during the period of 7 years (1496-1503) drew him deep into the current of humanistic aspects of the Renaissance. In Italy he studied canon law at the Universities of Bologna and Ferrara, and medicine at the University of Padua. Above all, he continued his studies and observations in astronomy regardless of his other interests, and lectured on astronomy in Rome in the year 1500 while studying canon law. Copernicus returned to Poland in 1503. As a canon, he first worked for his uncle, the Bishop of Warmia (Ermland), as a secretary and physician. He was also involved in political and administrative problems of the Warmia province. As a canon of the Warmia Cathedral chapter he was chancellor, inspector general and administrator of the chapter's estate. During the war against the Teutonic Order of Knights he distinguished himself in the defense of Olsztyn--the capital of Warmia--and demonstrated his diplomatic talents and skill. After the war he was involved in economic reconstruction of the province and proposed a currency reform. In connection with this he wrote a treatise on ways of minting coins, in which he formulated a law which may be briefly summarized as: "Bad money drives out good." After 30 years that law was rediscovered by the English economist, Sir Thomas Gresham, and is now known in economic literature as "Gresham's Law". In Poland it is called the "Copernicus-Gresham Law" and Copernicus is recognized as the founder of Polish Economics (Fig. 60 on p. 162). All of the numerous interests and activities of Nicolaus Copernicus show that he was not only a great Renaissance thinker but also a"man of action". Despite his intensive public activities, he did not interrupt his astronomical studies and observations.
160
Introductory Remarks In 1507 he finished a small manuscript entitled "Commentariolus", which was a brief exposition of his heliocentric theory. In 1519 he finished writing Book One, which is the most important part of his fundamental work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. The whole work was completed in 1530, during the latter years of his life. In this work he developed the heliocentric theory of the structure of the universe which opened up not only a new era in the history of astronomy, but new horizons in philosophy and moral science and, to a great extent, contributed to other modern sciences. Figures 61, 62 and 62A (pages 162-3) illustrate present-day appreciation of Copernicus. Looking at the life, work, and achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus from a modern point of view, one can say that he is symbolic of scientific courage evidenced by his opposition to traditional authority and dogma. Professor Sobolewski, one of Poland's most prominent scholars in the field of cultural history, expressed his view on this point by stating "not only were the teachings of Copernicus an act of courage because he contradicted scholastic traditions, but they were also an act of great intellectual courage because they contradicted the sensory data of general human experience". We can regard the work of Nicolaus Copernicus as a model of true scientific research, free from traditional experience, habits, limits and dogmas.
161
FIG. 60. Coins used in Poland about Copcrmcus’
FIG. 61. Krakow,
1952: Copernicus
time. (Photographs
celebrations. Photograph (DIP Zrit, Hamburg.)
by Charles Eames.)
by courtesy of Klaus J. Kallabis.
I;lG. 62. Cato\\iczc: Copernicus Photograph by courtesy of Klaus (Oie 254, Hamburg.)
blonument. J. Kallabis.
F~ti. 62~. The Copernicus statue in the “Bastionsgarten” in Salzburg-a sculpture due to Thorak (1889-1952) Irho lived in Salzburg in his last years. (Courtesy of Dr.@. Dr.h.c. A.-F. Staats, Hanover.)
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Economic Councillor, Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C. IT IS a great honor and privilege for me to present before this distinguished audience, on behalf of the Polish Ambassador to the United States, the introductory remarks at this session of the Copernicus Commemorative Conference. May I also take this opportunity to express our highest regard and gratitude to you, Mr. Chairman, to members of the organizing committee and to all those who gave freely of their time and effort to prepare and organize this Conference. I would also like to express our gratitude to the distinguished scientists from the U.S.A., and other countries, for their attendance and participation in the Conference, which contributes significantly to the world-wide observance of the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus--one of the greatest Polish astronomers and scientists, whose impact on modern astronomy and physics is well recognized. Since I am not an astronomer or physicist, I do not intend to discuss the scientific achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus. It will be done here by the most prominent specialists in these fields. Let me concentrate briefly on some important biographical facts of the life of Nicolaus Copernicus and on the more general aspects of Copernicus' contributions to human sciences. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torufi in Poland on February 19, 1473 in a burgher's family. Seventy years of his life, and 50 years of intensive studies and practical activities in many fields, were concentrated in a period of great transformation and transition between several epochs--when the feudal system was breaking up, when the humanist rejection of medieval ideals spurred interest in ancient culture,
159
Joves Soldaczuk when reformation in religious beliefs was under way, and when human problems began to take place. The Copernican Theory was developed when Poland was experiencing her "Golden Age" in economical, political and cultural life at the end of the fifteenth and during the sixteenth centuries. It thrived in an atmosphere of the progressive aspirations of the Polish citizens. Torufi, the birthplace of Copernicus, was at that time one of the richest towns in Europe, profiting mainly from overseas trade with Western Europe. Nicolaus Copernicus' father was a merchant involved in trade and politics. He died when his son was about 10 years old. Since Copernicus' maternal uncle took over his support, he was able to enter the Academy of Krakow in 1591. The Academy of Krakow was more than 100 years old at that time and was famous not only for its theology but also for its natural sciences, mathematics, and astronomy, with Wojciech Brudzewski as the most prominent among the astronomers. The Renaissance ideals were established early at the Academy of Krakow, long before Nicolaus Copernicus began his studies there. It was at the Academy that he first became imbued with the ideals of the Renaissance, and it was there also that he became interested in astronomy. Studies at Italian universities during the period of 7 years (1496-1503) drew him deep into the current of humanistic aspects of the Renaissance. In Italy he studied canon law at the Universities of Bologna and Ferrara, and medicine at the University of Padua. Above all, he continued his studies and observations in astronomy regardless of his other interests, and lectured on astronomy in Rome in the year 1500 while studying canon law. Copernicus returned to Poland in 1503. As a canon, he first worked for his uncle, the Bishop of Warmia (Ermland), as a secretary and physician. He was also involved in political and administrative problems of the Warmia province. As a canon of the Warmia Cathedral chapter he was chancellor, inspector general and administrator of the chapter's estate. During the war against the Teutonic Order of Knights he distinguished himself in the defense of Olsztyn--the capital of Warmia--and demonstrated his diplomatic talents and skill. After the war he was involved in economic reconstruction of the province and proposed a currency reform. In connection with this he wrote a treatise on ways of minting coins, in which he formulated a law which may be briefly summarized as: "Bad money drives out good." After 30 years that law was rediscovered by the English economist, Sir Thomas Gresham, and is now known in economic literature as "Gresham's Law". In Poland it is called the "Copernicus-Gresham Law" and Copernicus is recognized as the founder of Polish Economics (Fig. 60 on p. 162). All of the numerous interests and activities of Nicolaus Copernicus show that he was not only a great Renaissance thinker but also a"man of action". Despite his intensive public activities, he did not interrupt his astronomical studies and observations.
160
Introductory Remarks In 1507 he finished a small manuscript entitled "Commentariolus", which was a brief exposition of his heliocentric theory. In 1519 he finished writing Book One, which is the most important part of his fundamental work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. The whole work was completed in 1530, during the latter years of his life. In this work he developed the heliocentric theory of the structure of the universe which opened up not only a new era in the history of astronomy, but new horizons in philosophy and moral science and, to a great extent, contributed to other modern sciences. Figures 61, 62 and 62A (pages 162-3) illustrate present-day appreciation of Copernicus. Looking at the life, work, and achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus from a modern point of view, one can say that he is symbolic of scientific courage evidenced by his opposition to traditional authority and dogma. Professor Sobolewski, one of Poland's most prominent scholars in the field of cultural history, expressed his view on this point by stating "not only were the teachings of Copernicus an act of courage because he contradicted scholastic traditions, but they were also an act of great intellectual courage because they contradicted the sensory data of general human experience". We can regard the work of Nicolaus Copernicus as a model of true scientific research, free from traditional experience, habits, limits and dogmas.
161
FIG. 60. Coins used in Poland about Copcrmcus’
FIG. 61. Krakow,
1952: Copernicus
time. (Photographs
celebrations. Photograph (DIP Zrit, Hamburg.)
by Charles Eames.)
by courtesy of Klaus J. Kallabis.
I;lG. 62. Cato\\iczc: Copernicus Photograph by courtesy of Klaus (Oie 254, Hamburg.)
blonument. J. Kallabis.
F~ti. 62~. The Copernicus statue in the “Bastionsgarten” in Salzburg-a sculpture due to Thorak (1889-1952) Irho lived in Salzburg in his last years. (Courtesy of Dr.@. Dr.h.c. A.-F. Staats, Hanover.)
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