Nicolaus Copernicus and Leonardo da Vinci
Emerging Renaissance Worldviews
Renaissance Masters Da Vinci and Copernicus
“The painter strives and competes with nature,” says Leonardo da Vinci in a piece called “Nature, Art, and Science. These words echo a greater revolution that took place during the Renaissance Period. New ideologies blossomed throughout Europe, creating a veritable paradigm shift on a cultural scale. Both emphasized nature in their respective theories of knowledge, however each had a different way of man’s role and ability in perception when it comes to nature.
Copernicus’ Worldview: Math and Science are Keys to Truth
Nicholas Copernicus was a scientist during the Renaissance Period, most known for his contribution to the world of science and his heliocentric theory of planetary motion. In 1543 he published The Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres. Copernicus felt that man could be easily deceived by his perceptions of nature and that mathematics and science are essential for deriving a universal truth of nature. “Why are we not willing to acknowledge that the appearance of a daily revolution belongs to the heavens, its actuality to the earth?” he poses. Copernicus doesn’t trust man’s first instincts about reality. He believes it’s important to know the scientific truth in order to negate man’s inability to reason.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Worldview: Echoes Plato
Leonardo da Vinci, famed artist, scientist and general “renaissance man” of many studies, isn’t quite so unfaithful about man’s ability to perceive. “O painter! That you cannot be a good one if you are not the universal master of representing your art every kind of form produced by nature,” Da Vinci states in his piece Nature, Art, and Science. It is clear that he, like Copernicus, puts emphasis on the careful skill it takes to analyze nature, but contrastingly da Vinci does not worry so much about the scientific aspect of truth. His philosophy of truth and knowledge echoes a more Platonic train of thought.
Plato: Original Renaissance Philosopher
Plato believed that the world consists of forms which are always striving to “become” an ideal and universal form, one that exists in a world outside of our own. Just like these objects are trying to accurately depict the ideal form, da Vinci similarly felt that the artist’s job is to depict these objects in the real world as accurately as possible. Da Vinci did not worry so much about man inherent ability to be deceived by nature and his perceptions as Copernicus did.
Da Vinci and Copernicus Created Seeds of Modern Day Science and Art
Though they differ on man’s duty and abilities to understand truth and nature, da Vinci and Copernicus were similar in philosophy in other more general aspects. Both exemplified a new and contagious feeling amongst the European community. New philosophies were popping up all over, so to speak. Human thought and reflection gained a new importance during this time. By examining written works during this time, we can see new ideas developing as the seeds of modern day science and art.
