Links to external sources may no longer work as intended. The content may not represent the latest thinking in this area or the Society’s current position on the topic.
A 13th century theory of everything
A collaborative research approach is bringing new life to medieval theories about the universe.
Grosseteste was an English polymath who studied the physics of light and used it to explain colour and the rainbow, and the origin of the universe. Inspired by Grosseteste's model, The Ordered Universe Project is bringing together historians, scientists linguists and philosophers to jointly study medieval texts in an aim to bridge the current perception gap between the study of science and humanities.
In their talk, Dr Giles Gasper and Professor Brian Tanner revealed why 800 years later, Grosseteste's theories are as relevant as ever.