Extraterrestrial Life Debate, Antiquity to 1915: A Source Book

5. FONTENELLE AND HUYGENS

FONTENELLE AND HUYGENS BERNARD LE BOVIER DE FONTENELLE (1657–1757) Two books published toward the end of the seventeenth century greatly stimulated interest in and probably acceptance of extraterrestrials. The authors of these books, which are the focus of this chapter, were Fontenelle and Huygens. The earlier book appeared in 1686, when Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle published his Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes (Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds). The popularity of the book was such that translations soon appeared in Danish, Dutch, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and English. In fact, by 1688, three different English translations of it were available, with five more following. Overall, this extraordinarily popular volume has gone through approximately one hundred editions.1 Although the public proclaimed Fontenelle’s book delightful, the Roman Catholic Church deemed it dangerous, placing it on the Index of Prohibited Books in 1687, removing it in 1825, but reinstating it in 1900! 72 1. Nina Rattner Gelbart, “Introduction” to Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds, trans. H. A. Hargreaves (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), vii. F F I I V V E E Written in the form of a dialogue between a philosopher and a charming marquise, it is one of the first works dealing with a scientific subject that was fully accessible to women. Espousing Copernican astronomy and the Cartesian vortex cosmology, Fontenelle incorporated a number of devices developed by seventeenthcentury pioneers of science fiction. Fontenelle’s sixth dialogue, which he added in 1687, includes a helpful summary of five main arguments employed in his book: [1] the similarities of the planets to the earth which is inhabited; [2] the impossibility of imagining any other use for which they were made; [3] the fecundity and magnificence of nature, [4] the consideration she seems to show for the needs of their inhabitants as having given moons to planets distant from the sun, and more moons to those more remote; and [5] that which is very important—— all that which can be said on one side and nothing on the other.2 Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, A Plurality of Worlds, trans. John Glanvill ([London]: Nonesuch Press, 1929), 12–13, 37–39, 55–57, 64–67, 79–81, 88–91, 95–100, 104–6, 113–15, 120–21, and 137–38. THE FIRST EVENING . . . I confess, Madam, said I, the night hath somewhat a more melancholy Air, than the day; we fancy the Stars march more silently than the Sun, and our thoughts wander with the more liberty, whilst we think all the world at rest but our selves: Besides the day is more uniform, we see nothing but the Sun, and light in the Firmament; whilst the night gives us variety of Objects, and shews us ten thousand Stars, which inspire us with as many pleasant Ideas. What you say is true, said she, I love the Stars, there is somewhat charming in them, and I could almost be angry with the Sun for effacing ’em. f o n t e n e l l e a n d h u y g e n s 73 2. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes, ed. by Alexandre Calame (Paris: M. Didier, 1966), 161. I can never pardon him, I cry’d, for keeping all those Worlds from my sight: What Worlds, said she, looking earnestly upon me, what Worlds do you mean? I beg your Pardon, Madam, said I, you have put me upon my folly, and I begin to rave: what Folly, said she, I discover none? Alas, said I, I am asham’d, I must own it, I have had a strong Fancy every Star is a World. I will not swear it is true, but must think so, because it is so pleasant to believe it; ’Tis a fancy come into my head, and it is diverting. If your folly be so diverting, said the Countess, Pray make me sensible of it; provided the pleasure be so great, I will believe of the Stars all you would have me. The philosopher proceeds to explain, among other matters, the Copernican system, in which the Earth rotates on its own axis while it orbits the immobile Sun. THE SECOND EVENING IN the Morning, I sent to the Countes’s Apartment, to know how she had rested, and whether the...