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In The Renaissance of Astronomy: Regiomontanus, Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, Galileo, Noel Swerdlow opens his chapter on Kepler, “The New Astronomy,” with a section on “God’s Plan of the Universe.” He describes how, in the Mysterium Cosmographicum, Kepler discusses God’s use of regular polyhedra as the basis of the cosmos: the five regular solids representing the planets are situated between six spheres, which provide motion for the planets. Furthermore, Kepler stated that he agreed with Plato, that God is always a geometer. Kepler’s engagement with Plato’s ideas is also seen in his translation of and comments on Plutarch’s dialogue On the Face on the Moon. Elsewhere, in his Table-Talk (8.2), Plutarch describes a discussion of what Plato meant by saying that God is always doing geometry. The responses to Plutarch’s question leave us with no certain answer. Instead, the Table-Talk emphasises the importance of gathering as a community, discussing, debating, and sharing ideas. And, especially, to remember friends, teachers and colleagues, and all that we have learned from them. The Table-Talk suggests that we may not be able to have certain knowledge, but we can raise questions, have stimulating conversations, and recall esteemed colleagues.

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What Plato Meant by Saying That God Is Always Doing Geometry: Responses to the Question Posed by Plutarch in Table-Talk 8.2

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    2026年

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  • Liba Taub

摘要

In The Renaissance of Astronomy: Regiomontanus, Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, Galileo, Noel Swerdlow opens his chapter on Kepler, “The New Astronomy,” with a section on “God’s Plan of the Universe.” He describes how, in the Mysterium Cosmographicum, Kepler discusses God’s use of regular polyhedra as the basis of the cosmos: the five regular solids representing the planets are situated between six spheres, which provide motion for the planets. Furthermore, Kepler stated that he agreed with Plato, that God is always a geometer. Kepler’s engagement with Plato’s ideas is also seen in his translation of and comments on Plutarch’s dialogue On the Face on the Moon. Elsewhere, in his Table-Talk (8.2), Plutarch describes a discussion of what Plato meant by saying that God is always doing geometry. The responses to Plutarch’s question leave us with no certain answer. Instead, the Table-Talk emphasises the importance of gathering as a community, discussing, debating, and sharing ideas. And, especially, to remember friends, teachers and colleagues, and all that we have learned from them. The Table-Talk suggests that we may not be able to have certain knowledge, but we can raise questions, have stimulating conversations, and recall esteemed colleagues.