Assignment 3.

Metacognitive Reading Report

Name: Mary Kristhelyn B. Manit Date Submitted: January 26, 2023
Course/ Section: BSA GE5(8045)

• Chapters 5-7 of Thomas S. Kuhn’s The Copernican Revolution

1.Difficult Concepts

a. Nicholas of Cusa’s vision of the infinite universe

b. Copernicanism

c. Corpuscular Universes

2.Learning Insights

a. Before reading the article, I thought that the Copernican Revolution was solely founded on
Copernicus’ conceptions of the cosmos. However, after reading the article, I now think/learned that
the Copernican Revolution is the simple and accurate calculation of planetary positions, the
elimination of eccentrics and epicycles, the dissolution of the spheres, the sun as a star, and the
infinite expansion of the universe, which cannot be found in Copernicus’ works.

b. Before reading the article, I thought that Copernicus was merely expressing his absurd beliefs and
opinions and turning them into a book, just like people thought in his time. However, after reading
the article, I now think/learned that Copernicus’s works were some of the factors that contributed to
astronomy’s rise to interest at the time and that they also provided new avenues for future
astronomical discoveries.

c. Before reading the article, I thought that the Copernican Revolution had only contributed
information about how the universe looks. However, after reading the article, I believe or learned
that the Copernican revolution played a role in the development of modern technology. Perhaps it
was noted as the birth of modern technology. It was also noted as a turning moment in the study of
cosmology and astronomy.

3. Discussion Question

a. Why, just a century after Copernicus’ passing, did they believe in his theory?

b. What led the scientist to accept Copernicus’ theories?

c. How did scientists in the 16th century realize that the planets orbited either the sun or the earth?