ABSTRACT
One of the most compelling images depicting the birth of humankind’s modern understanding of the universe features a medieval monk pulling back the sphere of primary perception to reveal the cosmos that lay hidden behind these initial ideas (Fig. 7.1). The monk’s view, although dangerously controversial at the time 1 has permeated almost all cultures over the past 400 years and it is now commonly assumed that children and adults draw back the same sphere-like veil to gain a similar perspective. But over the past decade there has been a growing body of evidence that throws doubt on the assumption that children and scientifically naive adults form post-Copernican notions about planet Earth in space (see Durant, Evans, & Thomas, 1989). Research shows that pupils frequently come to their lessons having constructed their own explanations for many of the easily observed astronomical events, and that these children’s notions or “alternative frameworks” (Driver, 1983) are at variance with accepted views, often persisting into adulthood. A medieval view of the cosmos. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203053287/651f791d-678f-4fec-9f70-2c6747e81bf6/content/fig7_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
