THE EARTH FLOATS UNSUPPORTED IN SPACE
THE EARTH FLOATS UNSUPPORTED IN SPACE

Author(s): Radim Kočandrle
Subject(s): Social Sciences, History of ideas, Ancient World
Published by: Scientia Socialis, UAB
Keywords: Anaximander; Aristotle; Cosmology; Equilibrium; Earth;
Summary/Abstract: According to Aristotle, Anaximander of Miletus explained the motionless position of the Earth in the universe by appealing to the principle of equilibrium. This study shows that such a conception would have represented a radical departure from the Ionian tradition, which tended to stress the role of air in supporting the Earth. Moreover, given the cosmological role of air, it is possible that this element played the same role also in Anaximander’s thought. Aristotle’s argument is in fact most likely based on Anaximander’s notion of concentric circles of heavenly bodies around the Earth.

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