From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe

Alexandre Koyré’s "From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe" is a classic study of the scientific revolution, tracing the shift from the finite, ordered cosmos of medieval thought to the modern conception of an endless universe. Its historical importance lies in showing how changes in astronomy, philosophy, and metaphysics transformed Western ideas of space and nature; readers will find lucid chapters on Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and the conceptual break with older cosmology.

Alexandre Koyré (1892–1964) was a historian of science and philosophy whose work helped illuminate the intellectual background of hermeticism, Renaissance magic, and the Scientific Revolution. His scholarship is important for understanding the historical relationship between esoteric traditions and early modern thought.