Just one question

**therussian** · March 25, 2008, 06:09 PM

Can someone explain to me in a few sentences what exactly is "plurality of worlds"?

And specifically, what does it mean in this context: "Claiming the existence of a plurality of worlds and their eternity."

This might be more suited for the Athenaeum, but oh well.

**~~removeduser_426582376423734~~** · March 25, 2008, 06:13 PM

I would've thought string theory rather than multiverses but hmm... lets actually wait for people who know what they're talking about.

**Pontifex Maximus** · March 25, 2008, 06:14 PM

The possible existance of other planets (possibly with life) is seemingly being discussed.

**therussian** · March 25, 2008, 06:39 PM

It's just that I'm referencing Giordano Bruno in one of my school papers, and one of the counts that he was burnt at the stake on was "Claiming the existence of a plurality of worlds and their eternity." And I'm just wondering what the heck that is.

**Pontifex Maximus** · March 25, 2008, 06:41 PM

What time period are we atlking about? Burnt at the stake? Maybe the church thought he was a heretic for his statements?

**therussian** · March 25, 2008, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by _Pontifex_

What time period are we atlking about? Burnt at the stake? Maybe the church thought he was a heretic for his statements?

1600. He as burnt for that exact reason. I just can't understand what the heck it means (i'm stupid, in case you didn't notice

), and that link that Shyam posted does nothing for me. Layman's terms please! And definite answers!

**~~removeduser_426582376423734~~** · March 25, 2008, 06:41 PM

Have you done the lazy way? Wiki says the plurality of worlds can also be called the Plentitude Principle. Its basically the multiverse theory I think.

**Serious Spamurai** · March 25, 2008, 06:41 PM

Saying that there's more than just the dimension we're in and that there's no such thing as judgment day? That's all I can deduce from it.

**~~removeduser_426582376423734~~** · March 25, 2008, 06:46 PM

Layman's terms? "Everything that can happen will happen." Infinite amounts of universes where everything that anyone could ever possibly do happens. Your Bruno believed in that and was considered a heretic.

**therussian** · March 25, 2008, 06:57 PM

Ok, thanks!

**chriscase** · March 25, 2008, 07:49 PM

Well, I think in the Renaissance context it means something a bit different. The "eternity" part is pretty straightforward. Bruno's cosmology contradicted the Church timeline:

<Time Begins: Genesis> -> -> -> <Judgement>

Instead he saw no reason to insist time must have begun sometime in the past, and claimed time could / did proceed indefinitely into the past and/or future. (I am unclear as to his exact arguments).

The "plurality of worlds" probably has to do with Copernican revision of the role of Earth in the Cosmos or something similar - I would guess it amounts to the idea that the Earth is no longer special in the universe.

Apparently neither idea sat well with the Inquisition.

**ThiudareiksGunthigg** · March 25, 2008, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by chriscase

The "plurality of worlds" probably has to do with Copernican revision of the role of Earth in the Cosmos or something similar - I would guess it amounts to the idea that the Earth is no longer special in the universe.

Bruno's idea was that the Earth and the Sun were nothing special and were just another star and another planet. This doesn't strike us as too remarkable, but it was radical in his time. But it was not a scientific idea based on observation nor was it inspired by Copernicus.

Apparently neither idea sat well with the Inquisition.

Partly because they contradicted Scripture but also because they contradicted the science of the time. But Bruno also held a number of heterodox religious ideas as well, which were more than enough for him to end up on the wrong side of the Inquisition. The idea that he was a martyr to science and reason is something of a distortion of history.