Annotated Source #9

McColley, Grant. "The Seventeenth-Century Doctrine of a Plurality of Worlds." Annals of Science 1.4 (1936): p. 385-430. Print.

• This article discusses one of the emerging concepts of the 17th century after Copernicus' heliocentric theory. It focuses specifically on the idea that there could be other worlds/universes like the one we inhabit, and that these many worlds could cover an infinite amount of space. It also addresses the impact that possible theories of these infinite worlds would have on individuals' perceptions of God. McColley argues that perceptions established during the 17th century because of Copernicus' discovery were retained at least into the early 19th century, though he believes that they have largely lost their place at his time in the 1930s.