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Dec 27, 1571
Birth
Weil der Stadt, Holy Roman Empire (Modern day Germany). Johannes Kepler was born in a time when science was changing in revolutionary ways, but was still very much influenced by mysticism and archaic approaches. -
Mysterium Cosmographica
Kepler defines and establishes causality as being key to science. Not only did Kepler identify that planets orbit in an elipse and move slower or faster depending on where they are in relation to the sun, he established that this was cause by the sun. Kepler's planetary laws advanced the idea of causality as being crucial to physical science. (Kepler, J., & Schenkel, P. M. (1993). Mysterium cosmographicum. München: Bayerische Akademie der Wiss. -
Astronomia Nova
The Copernican view of the universe revolutionized thought, yet it held the sun as a point in space, not an influencer on matter. In AN, Kepler was aware that he was shifting further the approach to astronomy. Kepler pushes the boundaries of methodology and causality in this work on polyhedral solids and astronomy.The approach to astronomy and physics was challenged by the view that celestial bodies moved with causality. (Astronomia nova
Johannes Kepler-William Donahue - Green Lion Press - 2015) -
Period: to
Life's Work
The apprenticeship with Tycho Brahe began a lifetime of work by Kepler that influenced the philosophy of physics forever. By understanding that the orbits of planets were influenced by the sun, which was the focus of each eliptical orbit, Kepler set the foundation for others such as Isaac Newton. Seeing the physical realm of one that can be methodically examined to determine cause and effect, Kepler's life's work shifted paradigms and helped to establish a new age physics and astronomy. -
Death
Regensberg, Holy Roman Empire (Modern day Germany)
