Jean-Baptiste Morin (mathematician)
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Jean-Baptiste Morin (February 23, 1583 – November 6, 1656), also known by the
Life and work
Born in
In 1630, Morin was appointed professor of mathematics at the Collège Royal, a post he held until his death.
A firm believer of the idea that the
Morin believed that improved methods of solving spherical triangles had to be found and that better lunar tables were needed.
Morin and longitude
Morin attempted to solve the
A prize was to be awarded, so a committee was set up by Richelieu to evaluate Morin's proposal. Serving on this committee were Étienne Pascal, Claude Mydorge, and Pierre Hérigone. The committee remained in dispute with Morin for the five years after he made his proposal. Morin refused to listen to objections to his proposal, which was considered impractical. In his attempts to convince the committee members, Morin proposed that an observatory be set up in order to provide accurate lunar data. He wrangled with the committee for five years.
In 1645,
Morin and astrology
Perhaps most famous for his work as an
At least among English-speaking astrologers, Morin is known as having been particularly concerned with prediction through methodical extrapolation of what is promised in the natal chart. His techniques were
a subsidiary technique though one key to accurate timing of events nonetheless.Morin challenged much of classical astrological theory, including the astrology of Ptolemy, in an attempt to present a solid set of tools while rendering reasons for and against particular techniques, some of which may be considered crucial to many astrologers before and during Morin’s lifetime. At the same time, Morin vested himself heavily in promoting in mundo directions, a technique largely based on the work of Regiomontanus that became available thanks to then-recent advancement in mathematics. In his work, Morin provides examples of successful delineation of events that otherwise could not be delineated with the same relative degree of certainty.
Morin’s life has been that of trial and tribulation by his own testament. He died in Paris of natural causes at 73 years of age.
Sources
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Jean-Baptiste Morin (mathematician)", MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St Andrews
- Longitude
- The Galileo Project
- A critical edition of Morin's will and probate inventory
Further reading
- The Astrology of Jean-Baptiste Morin by Thomas Callanan
- Astrologia Gallica principiis & rationibus propriis stabilita atque in XXVI libros distributa (The Hague: Adriaan Vlacq, 1661).
- Translations into English of individual books of the Astrologia Gallica published by the American Federation of Astrologers (Tempe, Az.) with the date of publication:
- Books 13, 14, 15, & 19 (2006)
- Book 16 (2008)
- Book 17 (2008)
- Book 18 (2004)
- Book 21 (2008)
- Book 22 (1994)
- Book 23 (2004)
- Book 24 (2004)
- Book 25 (2008)
- Book 26 (2010)