Testing Theology With Optics: PARADISO, Canto II, Lines 85 - 105

Beatrice continues in her scientific and Scholastic explanation for moon spots by taking apart a secondary argument . . . and proposing an optical experiment. She voices an objection Dante might have: perhaps there are dense bits behind the rare bits that reflect light as darker spots because those denser bits are farther off. To prove him wrong (although he hasn't said a thing), she asks him to set up an experiment with three mirrors. Problem is, he doesn't need three mirrors for this experiment. But he does need three if he wants to show that the universe is based on a trinitarian concept of God. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we look at one of the more surprising moments in PARADISO: the call for scientific experimentation (perhaps to prove a theological point). Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE: [01:13] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto II, Lines 85 - 105. To read along or to continue the conversation with me, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com. [03:25] The basic structure of the passage: Beatrice's secondary explanation (or objection), then her experimental refutation of that explanation. [05:29] Medieval optical theory and its limits. [08:36] The limits of Beatrice's proposed experiment--and why they may not matter since the point may be theology, not optical theory or cosmology. [17:23] Four possiblereasons this long discussion of moon spots lands here in COMEDY. [23:41] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto II, lines 85 - 105.