MS#117A. The Broken Chain, 2005
Shorter version, Elixir, #2 (2006); pp. 9-16.
Subjects: History of mathematics
Written: November 9, 2005
Abstract: The demise of the world soul, breaking the great chain of being, is associated with the rise of modern science. Here we invoke the mathematical theory of bifurcations, part of chaos theory, to explain how a small shift in Kepler's work on the elliptical orbit of Mars broke the great chain.
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Last revised by Ralph Abraham