Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T18:20:29.346Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

5 - The Haunted Astronomer

Camille Flammarion, Psychical Research, and the Uranian Philosophy of the Universe

from Part II - Metaphysical and Social Influences on Astronomy and the Cosmic Worldview

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2026

Get access

Summary

Camille Flammarion (Figure 5.1) is an important if enigmatic figure in the history of modern astronomy. He was undoubtedly one of the most influential popularizers of astronomy of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and a key voice in the plurality-of-worlds debates of that period (Crowe, 1999; Dick, 1996). His example paved the way for the scientist popularizers who followed, such as Carl Sagan. However, his philosophical approach and involvement in the spiritist movement make him appear to be a figure from an earlier century. Indeed, Flammarion’s populist and philosophical approach to astronomy ultimately fell outside of the boundaries of the new astronomy constructed in the late nineteenth century as its centers of authority moved to mountain tops, its methods became increasingly instrumental, and its ethos became defined by “professionalism, expertise, and scientific method” (Nall, 2019, p. 75).

Information

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×