Testing Theology With Optics: PARADISO, Canto II, Lines 85 - 105

Beatrice continues her discussion of moon spots by voicing (and fabricating) an objection Dante might have to her argument against rare and dense material: maybe the dense material is farther back in the moon and reflects dimmer light. To disprove this notion, she proposes an experiment . . . which just happens to support both the incarnation and the trinity from orthodox Christian theology.

Paradiso Cantos I - VIIMark ScarbroughAugust 30, 2026The moon, moon spots, incarnation, trinity, Beatrice, natural philosophyComment

Of Moon Spots and Virgil: PARADISO, Canto II, Lines 46 - 63

Our smartypants pilgrim Dante thinks he has the answer to why the moon has spots. It’s not that shoddy folklore. It’s all about natural philosophy. Problem is, Virgil was all about the folkloric explanation. And Beatrice is having none of it since he’s clearly “submerged” in fallacy, about the way Virgil was.

Paradiso Cantos I - VIIMark ScarbroughAugust 23, 2026Virgil, The moon, Paradiso, Beatrice, incarnation, natural philosophyComment

Here are the episodes for the opening cantos of PARADISO. The podcast is currently into Canto III. Because of the way my website is coded, the episodes appear in reverse order. Sorry about that. Scroll through the list to find earlier (or the earliest) episode.