On the Accuracy of the Almagest Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On the Accuracy of the Almagest - Research Paper Example According to the model of the solar system that he came up with, the sun moved in a spherical trajectory that was centered near the earth. Ptolemy also went ahead to claim that, in his model of the solar system, the Almagest, the sun maintained, what he termed to be, a set inclination of the earth’s center this being the equator. Through his research, Ptolemy concluded that the five visible plants from the earth moved in obits known as epicycles held together by small rings. These epicycles, he explained moved around the earth on larger unconventional sphere known as deferents. Like the sun, both the epicycles and the defrents also mentioned set inclinations close to the earth’s center. However, as much as his model, the Almagest, was considered remarkable, it has raised too many questions within the scientific realm. The Almagest has not seemed to fare well among many scientific scholars. Many scholars believe that due to his devotion to philosophical theories and doctrine Ptolemy came up with an overcomplicated, ridiculers and awkward model of the solar system that was in accurate in nature. Some of his doctrines that are heavily questioned and disagreed upon include the theory that the earth is stationary ad does not move in uniformity which other planets move around the earth center. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus came up with his own theory that stated that the earth and other planets moved around the suns orbit. This suppressed his theory and was largely backed by other scholars during this period. Although the study was deemed inaccurate in the sixteenth century, by Johannes Kepler’s model, it was enough to show how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy’s model was. The main aim behind this study is to examine how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy model of the solar system was. In addition, the study will be re-evaluating Ptolemy’s merits as an astronomer by examining some of the facts that he provided in his model of the solar system. The main objective behind the Almagest was to create a model that showed the solar system from earth. In his model, Ptolemy tries to explain the motion of the planets visible from earth the sun and the moon. However, in his model of the solar system Ptolemy lives out critical details of how these motions in his model occur or what courses this motion. This is why scholars and astronomers view the model as incorrect and fluid since it lucks basic evidence to support his facts. However, in his model, Ptolemy was able to provide some calculations such as how far the other planets are from earth by using the radius to measure. This helped, in that Copernicus was able to use this calculation in his own ad vanced and correct model of the solar system. Through Kepler’s model, which is considered, correct and more accurate than the two that came before it, one of the main things that one will learn is that plants obit the sun and is actually confocal to it. Such trajectories that the planets use called ellipses have two main factors that make them unique. These two facts can be used to see how inaccurate Ptolemy model from the sun is. Primarily, the obits are considered eccentric. This means that the sun, which is in the center, is rather in this model displaced due to geometric displacement of the sun. Second, each planet in the solar system has a particular axis from which it is elongated. This means that they are elliptical. Unluckier Kepler who came up with a theory that proved that the earth and other planets revolved the sun in their own obits, Ptolemy tries to study the

American Society is a Society of Denial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American Society is a Society of Denial - Essay Example The troops too have been conditioned on the power of silence, and so they have no one to share their stories to. Apparently, the civilians have learnt to shut out the war veterans, literary, as they attempt to share their experiences and tribulations at war. Who then, can dispute that the United States is indeed a society in denial In his 1994 publication titled, "Achilles in Vietnam: combat trauma and the undoing of character", Jonathan Shay (1994) describes, through the testimonies of veterans in Vietnam, how the war commanders would habitually attempt to eradicate normal compassion feelings and perception that were elicited by troops from the United States who were in this war. During times of war, military necessity, along with political propaganda acts as a yardstick of not just what the troops are able to perceive, but also the manners in which they are able to do so. According to Shay (1994), military superiors that were charged with the responsibility of handling both trauma and crime had a habit of telling their troops that these two occurrence never happened in the first place, and that the troops did not also experience them (Shay 1994). With such a mindset therefore, little wonder then, that when they were being interviewed by news reporters, the troops would not hesitate to point out that that trauma never occurred, and if it did, they somewhat expected it. Shay recounts how he recorded the testimony of one former troop in Vietnam, and how he recounted the ordeals back then with a taste of anger and bitterness. Apparently, his superiors were trying to alter the veteran's perception as regards the collective murder that he had not only contributed to, but also saw the dead bodies when daylight came. The comforting words of his superior were that he need not worry about the ordeal, and that his superiors would handle it. The superiors would then go ahead and commend the officers for what they called 'a job well done'. Ultimately, the trend found its way into the United States after the war was over (Bacevich 2005). Those soldiers that make it back home often get medals of Honor, albeit with a condition; that they ma intain silence as regards the pathos, realities, as well as the bizarre ills of war. To the war veterans, obstinate ignorance of the members of the public becomes a basis for pain. Through his short story titled Soldier's Home, Ernest Hemingway sheds light on how reluctant the civilians were to attend to the intuitive requirements of the troops who were returning back to the United States upon the end of the First World War. This book by Hemingway was published in 1925, and it therefore coincides with the end of the war. The story talks about Kerbs, a young soldier from Oklahoma. Upon return, he is not keen to disclose war issues. With time however, the urge to address war matter builds up. He thus desires to share these issues with his family, friends, as well as neighbors. However, Hemingway observes that "Nobody wanted to hear about it" (Rockwell 2008). Apparently, the young man's town had no wish to learn about war atrocities. Krebs finally discovered that if the town people were to listen to his stories, then he hand no choice but to lie about the war. Apparently the capability of this young man to absorb into the way of life of the civilians hinged upon how keen he has to put