Re: North again

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

Thanks for the last sentence. But the first is not clear. I do not
recognize a place which may create a "misleading impression
of the history." What gave you this impression, John?
Ludwik Kowalski

"John S. Denker" wrote:

> Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
> > Here is a quote from William Gilbert (1600): "Over-inquisitive
> > theologians, too, seek to light up God's mysteries and things
> > beyond man's understanding by means of the loadstone as a
> > sort of Delphic sward and as an illustration of all sort of things."
> > Loadstone is a north-seeking magnet, presumably recognizing
> > this special direction. While philosophers speculated some
> > unknown inventors found practical ways of using the mystery
> > phenomenon for navigational purposes.
>
> With all respect to Gilbert, this gives a misleading
> impression of the history.
>
> According to Needham, compasses have been used for
> divination for over 2000 years.  They have been used
> for navigation for over 1000 years.  The invention
> was transmitted from China to Europe over 900 years
> ago.
>
> The concept of "north" is quite a bit older than that.
> In China and Egypt there are 5000-year-old structures
> aligned north-south.  And I rather doubt that "north"
> was a new idea even then.  Ancient people weren't stupid.
>
> The preferred spelling these days is "lodestone".