Kepler's relation to the Jesuits—A study of his correspondence with Paul Guldin

Abstract

First, this article provides a survey of the kind of relationship that existed between Kepler and the Jesuits. Afterwards, it is pondered upon the likelihood of their having been in direct contact with each other while Kepler lived in Prague. The second part of the article is devoted to an investigation into the correspondence between Kepler and Paul Guldin as an example. Thus, the paper describes the key issues of those letters and concludes from this Guldin's attitude to Kepler and the resulting commitment to Kepler's affairs. Finally, the article examines whether the assumption that Kepler and Guldin later discontinued their correspondence intensionally is verifiable and plausible.

Erasmo Recami: della passione della Fisica

“…The Jesuits held Kepler in high esteem and his studies in high regard. Besides, Kepler was also sympathetic to some members of the Jesuit order and, in some cases, he felt at liberty to ask for support and advice during times of professional and economic hardship (Schuppener 1997). On the other hand, Kepler kept up an almost regular correspondence with various Catholic figures (1553-1622; see Schuppener 1997; see also Caspar, Dyck, 1930).…”

The Last 30 Years of Historiography of Physics: Quo Vadis?

“…The Jesuits held Kepler in high esteem and his studies in high regard. Besides, Kepler was also sympathetic to some members of the Jesuit order and, in some cases, he felt at liberty to ask for support and advice during times of professional and economic hardship (Schuppener 1997). On the other hand, Kepler kept up an almost regular correspondence with various Catholic figures (1553-1622; see Schuppener 1997; see also Caspar, Dyck, 1930).…”