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The Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1863 > January > Bibliography The plurality of the inhabited worlds
Bibliography The plurality of the inhabited worlds
There have been studies concerning the ability to inhabit other planets. These topics have been addressed by many scientists and organizations, including the work Astronomy and Philosophy by Camille Flammarion, Director of the Imperial Observatory of Paris.[1]
Although Spiritism is not discussed in that work the subject is among those that are part of our observations and the principles of the doctrine. Our readers will appreciate the fact that we have called their attention to this publication, persuaded, in particular, by the great interest that they will have for this attractive work both for the style and profundity. It contains one of the capital revelations of the Spirits, confirmed by science.
Mr. Flammarion is a member of the Spiritist Society of Paris and the notable dissertations signed by Galileo and published in September last year bear his name, published under the title Cosmological Studies. We are glad to make a special reference to this work for those two reasons and certain that it will undoubtedly be ratified. The author codified every element of nature to support the opinion about the plurality of inhabited worlds while combating the contrary opinion. After having read it we ask ourselves how is it possible to have any doubt about the subject. We must add still that the considerations of the highest scientific order do not exclude grace or poetry in the style. This can be assessed by the following passage where he speaks of the intuition that most people have about the habitability of the worlds when contemplating the celestial world:
“…However, the awe excited in you by the most touching scene of nature’s spectacle soon turns into a feeling of indescribable sadness for we are alien to those worlds where there is an apparent solitude that fails to give us the immediate impression of life that bonds us to Earth. We feel the need of inhabiting those globes apparently forgotten by life, seeking engaging eyes in those eternally desert and quiet lands, like the daring navigator sought for a long time in the desert of the oceans, looking for the land that was revealed, the eagle eyes reaching long distances, carefully transposing the limits of the known world to finally encounter the immense prairies on which the New World had been sitting for centuries. The dream came true. May ours break free from the mysteries that still surround it and we shall rise to the skies navigating the ship of our thoughts in search of new lands.”
The book is divided in three parts. The first is entitled Historical Study where the author reviews the long list of scholars and philosophers from the past and modern ones, religious and profane, that professed the doctrine of plurality of the worlds, from Orpheus to Herschel and Laplace.
“The majority of the Greek sects, he says, taught either openly and broadly to all disciples or in secrecy only to those belonging to this philosophy. If the poetry attributed to Orpheus are really his, we can consider him as the first one to teach the plurality of the worlds. It is implicitly found in his verses in which it is said that each star is a world and in particular in these words preserved by Proclus: ‘God constructed an immense land that the immortals called Selene and that men call Moon in which there is a large number of dwellings, mountains and towns.’
Pythagoras, the first Greek to bear the title of Philosopher, publicly taught the immobility of Earth and the motion of the globes around it like a unique center of creation, while declaring to the advanced students of his doctrine his belief in the movement of Earth, as a planet, and in the plurality of the worlds. Later on his most renowned disciples Democritus, Heraclitus and Metrodorus of Chios propagated the opinion of the master from the cathedra and such opinion became that of every Pythagorean and that of the majority of the Greek philosophers. Philolaus, Nicetas and Heraclides were amongst the keenest upholders of such belief. The latter even pretended that each star is a world like ours with atmosphere and a large extension of ethereal matter.”
Later he adds:
‘The healthy action of the Sun, Laplace says, give rise to the animals and plants that cover Earth and the analogy leads to the belief that it produces similar effects on other planets since it is not natural to think that matter whose fecundity we see developing so abundantly, is sterile in a planet as big as Jupiter that ,like Earth, has days, nights, years and about which observations indicate changes that presuppose very active forces… Since man is built to withstand the temperature of Earth he could not live on other planets. However, shouldn’t there be an infinity of organizations relative to the diverse temperatures of globes and universes? If only the difference among the elements and climates generates so much variety in the terrestrial production how much more difference, there should be in planets and satellites.”
The second part is dedicated to astrological study and the make-up of the several cosmic globes with the most positive scientific data showing that the Earth does not hold a special position either for its position or volume or even the elements that form it. As a result, there is nothing that justifies the exclusive privilege of being inhabited at the exclusion of all others that are better favored in various aspects. The first part is intellectual; the second part is science; the third part is philosophical. The astronomic observations explain the sequence of seasons, the atmospheric fluctuations and the temperature variations in the majority of the planets in our solar system. It follows that Earth is situated in one of the least favorable conditions, a world in which the inhabitants must endure more vicissitudes and where life must be more difficult from where the author concludes that it is not rational that God reserved for the dwelling of mankind one of the least favored while the better equipped planets would be condemned to not dwell any living being. All that not established on the basis of a systematic idea but on positive data with the contribution of all sciences: Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Meteorology, Geology, Physiology, Mechanics, etc.
“Nonetheless, he adds, the most favorable by far and in all aspects is the magnificent Jupiter whose seamless seasons still have the advantage of lasting twelve more months than ours. That gigantic cosmic orb flies over as challenging the weak inhabitants of Earth, giving a hint about the pompous images of a long and smooth existence.”
“Attached to the little terrestrial sphere by bonds that we cannot break, we see our days extinguishing continuously, rapidly consumed in the respective periods, in the disparate seasons whose antagonism perpetuates in the continual inequality of day and night and in the instability of temperature.”
After an eloquent picture of mankind’s struggle for survival against nature and the geological revolutions that transform the surface of the planet, threatening to annihilate it, he adds:
“After such considerations can we still pretend that this globe is the best possible world to mankind, and that many other celestial globes cannot be infinitely better than Earth and provide the favorable conditions to the long duration of human existence?”
Then, leading the reader through the worlds in the infinity of space, he portrays a horizon of such greatness that one cannot but find unworthy of God the supposition that our unknown globe, among many thousands of others, even unknown to our planetary system, is the only inhabited one, then identifying ourselves with the authors’ point when he ends by saying:
“Ah! If we could only see well enough to have our vision discover resplendent suns and the inhabited planets that follow their course where we can only see shining spots in the dark background of the skies! If we could only see at a glance the myriads of solidary systems and if we could travel at the speed of light for centuries and centuries crossing the limitless number of suns and spheres without ever touching the bounds of the prodigious infinity where God gives rise to the planets and beings; and if looking back we could no longer locate this grain of dust called Earth we would be fascinated and confused by such a spectacle, uniting our voice to the universal concert of nature saying from the bottom of our hearts: Almighty God! How could we have been so oblivious by thinking that there was nothing else beyond Earth and that our poor dwelling held the exclusive privilege of reflecting your greatness and power!”
From our side we finish with one observation: It is remarkable to see the wisdom contained in that book and the fact that they come from a young man at an age where his peers are still in school. It is even more impressive to see him presenting those ideas with such profound insight. This work demonstrates that his Spirit as not in an early stage or that he is unknowingly being assisted by other Spirits.
[1] Large brochure, in-8. Price: 2 francs; by mail 2.10 francs; Bachelier Edition, Quai des Grands-Augustins 55, at the Observatoire.
Although Spiritism is not discussed in that work the subject is among those that are part of our observations and the principles of the doctrine. Our readers will appreciate the fact that we have called their attention to this publication, persuaded, in particular, by the great interest that they will have for this attractive work both for the style and profundity. It contains one of the capital revelations of the Spirits, confirmed by science.
Mr. Flammarion is a member of the Spiritist Society of Paris and the notable dissertations signed by Galileo and published in September last year bear his name, published under the title Cosmological Studies. We are glad to make a special reference to this work for those two reasons and certain that it will undoubtedly be ratified. The author codified every element of nature to support the opinion about the plurality of inhabited worlds while combating the contrary opinion. After having read it we ask ourselves how is it possible to have any doubt about the subject. We must add still that the considerations of the highest scientific order do not exclude grace or poetry in the style. This can be assessed by the following passage where he speaks of the intuition that most people have about the habitability of the worlds when contemplating the celestial world:
“…However, the awe excited in you by the most touching scene of nature’s spectacle soon turns into a feeling of indescribable sadness for we are alien to those worlds where there is an apparent solitude that fails to give us the immediate impression of life that bonds us to Earth. We feel the need of inhabiting those globes apparently forgotten by life, seeking engaging eyes in those eternally desert and quiet lands, like the daring navigator sought for a long time in the desert of the oceans, looking for the land that was revealed, the eagle eyes reaching long distances, carefully transposing the limits of the known world to finally encounter the immense prairies on which the New World had been sitting for centuries. The dream came true. May ours break free from the mysteries that still surround it and we shall rise to the skies navigating the ship of our thoughts in search of new lands.”
The book is divided in three parts. The first is entitled Historical Study where the author reviews the long list of scholars and philosophers from the past and modern ones, religious and profane, that professed the doctrine of plurality of the worlds, from Orpheus to Herschel and Laplace.
“The majority of the Greek sects, he says, taught either openly and broadly to all disciples or in secrecy only to those belonging to this philosophy. If the poetry attributed to Orpheus are really his, we can consider him as the first one to teach the plurality of the worlds. It is implicitly found in his verses in which it is said that each star is a world and in particular in these words preserved by Proclus: ‘God constructed an immense land that the immortals called Selene and that men call Moon in which there is a large number of dwellings, mountains and towns.’
Pythagoras, the first Greek to bear the title of Philosopher, publicly taught the immobility of Earth and the motion of the globes around it like a unique center of creation, while declaring to the advanced students of his doctrine his belief in the movement of Earth, as a planet, and in the plurality of the worlds. Later on his most renowned disciples Democritus, Heraclitus and Metrodorus of Chios propagated the opinion of the master from the cathedra and such opinion became that of every Pythagorean and that of the majority of the Greek philosophers. Philolaus, Nicetas and Heraclides were amongst the keenest upholders of such belief. The latter even pretended that each star is a world like ours with atmosphere and a large extension of ethereal matter.”
Later he adds:
‘The healthy action of the Sun, Laplace says, give rise to the animals and plants that cover Earth and the analogy leads to the belief that it produces similar effects on other planets since it is not natural to think that matter whose fecundity we see developing so abundantly, is sterile in a planet as big as Jupiter that ,like Earth, has days, nights, years and about which observations indicate changes that presuppose very active forces… Since man is built to withstand the temperature of Earth he could not live on other planets. However, shouldn’t there be an infinity of organizations relative to the diverse temperatures of globes and universes? If only the difference among the elements and climates generates so much variety in the terrestrial production how much more difference, there should be in planets and satellites.”
The second part is dedicated to astrological study and the make-up of the several cosmic globes with the most positive scientific data showing that the Earth does not hold a special position either for its position or volume or even the elements that form it. As a result, there is nothing that justifies the exclusive privilege of being inhabited at the exclusion of all others that are better favored in various aspects. The first part is intellectual; the second part is science; the third part is philosophical. The astronomic observations explain the sequence of seasons, the atmospheric fluctuations and the temperature variations in the majority of the planets in our solar system. It follows that Earth is situated in one of the least favorable conditions, a world in which the inhabitants must endure more vicissitudes and where life must be more difficult from where the author concludes that it is not rational that God reserved for the dwelling of mankind one of the least favored while the better equipped planets would be condemned to not dwell any living being. All that not established on the basis of a systematic idea but on positive data with the contribution of all sciences: Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Meteorology, Geology, Physiology, Mechanics, etc.
“Nonetheless, he adds, the most favorable by far and in all aspects is the magnificent Jupiter whose seamless seasons still have the advantage of lasting twelve more months than ours. That gigantic cosmic orb flies over as challenging the weak inhabitants of Earth, giving a hint about the pompous images of a long and smooth existence.”
“Attached to the little terrestrial sphere by bonds that we cannot break, we see our days extinguishing continuously, rapidly consumed in the respective periods, in the disparate seasons whose antagonism perpetuates in the continual inequality of day and night and in the instability of temperature.”
After an eloquent picture of mankind’s struggle for survival against nature and the geological revolutions that transform the surface of the planet, threatening to annihilate it, he adds:
“After such considerations can we still pretend that this globe is the best possible world to mankind, and that many other celestial globes cannot be infinitely better than Earth and provide the favorable conditions to the long duration of human existence?”
Then, leading the reader through the worlds in the infinity of space, he portrays a horizon of such greatness that one cannot but find unworthy of God the supposition that our unknown globe, among many thousands of others, even unknown to our planetary system, is the only inhabited one, then identifying ourselves with the authors’ point when he ends by saying:
“Ah! If we could only see well enough to have our vision discover resplendent suns and the inhabited planets that follow their course where we can only see shining spots in the dark background of the skies! If we could only see at a glance the myriads of solidary systems and if we could travel at the speed of light for centuries and centuries crossing the limitless number of suns and spheres without ever touching the bounds of the prodigious infinity where God gives rise to the planets and beings; and if looking back we could no longer locate this grain of dust called Earth we would be fascinated and confused by such a spectacle, uniting our voice to the universal concert of nature saying from the bottom of our hearts: Almighty God! How could we have been so oblivious by thinking that there was nothing else beyond Earth and that our poor dwelling held the exclusive privilege of reflecting your greatness and power!”
From our side we finish with one observation: It is remarkable to see the wisdom contained in that book and the fact that they come from a young man at an age where his peers are still in school. It is even more impressive to see him presenting those ideas with such profound insight. This work demonstrates that his Spirit as not in an early stage or that he is unknowingly being assisted by other Spirits.
[1] Large brochure, in-8. Price: 2 francs; by mail 2.10 francs; Bachelier Edition, Quai des Grands-Augustins 55, at the Observatoire.