[Music] you
I want to talk about Robert gross test
I want to talk about Robert gross test who and what I feel is not only the one
who and what I feel is not only the one
who and what I feel is not only the one of the most impressive people to come
of the most impressive people to come
of the most impressive people to come from this city but there’s also probably
from this city but there’s also probably
from this city but there’s also probably the one the most overlooked as well but
the one the most overlooked as well but
the one the most overlooked as well but just to set the scene he is in a
just to set the scene he is in a
just to set the scene he is in a thirteenth century bishop and if there
thirteenth century bishop and if there
thirteenth century bishop and if there is one term that is most Mis applied to
is one term that is most Mis applied to
is one term that is most Mis applied to the Middle Ages it is it is the Dark
the Middle Ages it is it is the Dark
the Middle Ages it is it is the Dark Ages it is a time of great superstition
Ages it is a time of great superstition
Ages it is a time of great superstition people thought the world was flat and
people thought the world was flat and
people thought the world was flat and the sky was going to fall on their heads
the sky was going to fall on their heads
the sky was going to fall on their heads and the eked out a miserable existence
and the eked out a miserable existence
and the eked out a miserable existence saved only now and again by the
saved only now and again by the
saved only now and again by the superstitions that they clung to and I
superstitions that they clung to and I
superstitions that they clung to and I want to challenge that that that
want to challenge that that that
want to challenge that that that caricature of the Middle Ages and I want
caricature of the Middle Ages and I want
caricature of the Middle Ages and I want to do it by exploring Robert Krauss test
to do it by exploring Robert Krauss test
to do it by exploring Robert Krauss test because and in this 13th century bishop
because and in this 13th century bishop
because and in this 13th century bishop and this philosopher this theologian
and this philosopher this theologian
and this philosopher this theologian this poet we also find remarkably in the
this poet we also find remarkably in the
this poet we also find remarkably in the Middle Ages first-class scientist and
Middle Ages first-class scientist and
Middle Ages first-class scientist and that is something I think which is
that is something I think which is
that is something I think which is rather remarkable and it challenges and
rather remarkable and it challenges and
rather remarkable and it challenges and misconceptions I think that we generally
misconceptions I think that we generally
misconceptions I think that we generally have and are still so persistent to this
have and are still so persistent to this
have and are still so persistent to this day robert cross test let me start at
day robert cross test let me start at
day robert cross test let me start at the beginning the chronicles tell us
the beginning the chronicles tell us
the beginning the chronicles tell us this and sir it’s got a ring of legend
this and sir it’s got a ring of legend
this and sir it’s got a ring of legend about it this story but that does not
about it this story but that does not
about it this story but that does not mean to say that it isn’t true we are
mean to say that it isn’t true we are
mean to say that it isn’t true we are told that at the age of nine years old
told that at the age of nine years old
told that at the age of nine years old he is sent off from suffolk by his
he is sent off from suffolk by his
he is sent off from suffolk by his mother and go seek and education and
mother and go seek and education and
mother and go seek and education and there are no universities so where’d you
there are no universities so where’d you
there are no universities so where’d you go to seek an education you go to the
go to seek an education you go to the
go to seek an education you go to the Cathedral and he sets off for Lincoln
Cathedral and he sets off for Lincoln
Cathedral and he sets off for Lincoln but before he does his mother gives him
but before he does his mother gives him
but before he does his mother gives him a pearl of wisdom which is going to
a pearl of wisdom which is going to
a pearl of wisdom which is going to serve him well in his life and she tells
serve him well in his life and she tells
serve him well in his life and she tells him to always value the food the mind
him to always value the food the mind
him to always value the food the mind o-over the food of the belly and with
o-over the food of the belly and with
o-over the food of the belly and with this in his head he heads off towards a
this in his head he heads off towards a
this in his head he heads off towards a Lincoln to the great seat of learning
Lincoln to the great seat of learning
Lincoln to the great seat of learning which is Lincoln Cathedral as he arrives
which is Lincoln Cathedral as he arrives
which is Lincoln Cathedral as he arrives there he notices the first big house at
there he notices the first big house at
there he notices the first big house at first wealthy house and this happens to
first wealthy house and this happens to
first wealthy house and this happens to be the house of the new mayor of Lincoln
be the house of the new mayor of Lincoln
be the house of the new mayor of Lincoln and he knocks on the door looking for
and he knocks on the door looking for
and he knocks on the door looking for assistance
assistance
assistance and the mayor opens the door we are told
and the mayor opens the door we are told
and the mayor opens the door we are told and takes one look at this urgent in
and takes one look at this urgent in
and takes one look at this urgent in front of them and he says to him you can
front of them and he says to him you can
front of them and he says to him you can have this cape on this roasted chicken
have this cape on this roasted chicken
have this cape on this roasted chicken you can have it now but you make me warm
you can have it now but you make me warm
you can have it now but you make me warm promise you will never become the Bishop
promise you will never become the Bishop
promise you will never become the Bishop of Lincoln and we are told that Robert
of Lincoln and we are told that Robert
of Lincoln and we are told that Robert cross test remembering the words of
cross test remembering the words of
cross test remembering the words of wisdom from his mother says I refuse and
wisdom from his mother says I refuse and
wisdom from his mother says I refuse and walks away and now the mayor is so
walks away and now the mayor is so
walks away and now the mayor is so impressed that he calls him back and
impressed that he calls him back and
impressed that he calls him back and says you were looking for help and he
says you were looking for help and he
says you were looking for help and he said I was looking for assistance in
said I was looking for assistance in
said I was looking for assistance in education not in eating and they wear is
education not in eating and they wear is
education not in eating and they wear is so impressed by this that he pays for
so impressed by this that he pays for
so impressed by this that he pays for his education in Lincoln Cathedral and
his education in Lincoln Cathedral and
his education in Lincoln Cathedral and if that’s Chronicle is true and it may
if that’s Chronicle is true and it may
if that’s Chronicle is true and it may be then that is what mayor is
be then that is what mayor is
be then that is what mayor is responsible for the beginning of a truly
responsible for the beginning of a truly
responsible for the beginning of a truly spectacular academic career well what’s
spectacular academic career well what’s
spectacular academic career well what’s so special about Robert Gross test well
so special about Robert Gross test well
so special about Robert Gross test well he has been described as the first
he has been described as the first
he has been described as the first modern scientist huge claimed the first
modern scientist huge claimed the first
modern scientist huge claimed the first modern scientist in the 13th century and
modern scientist in the 13th century and
modern scientist in the 13th century and why was that well it’s because of a
why was that well it’s because of a
why was that well it’s because of a deceptively simple idea he has and the
deceptively simple idea he has and the
deceptively simple idea he has and the idea is this that in order to learn
idea is this that in order to learn
idea is this that in order to learn stuff we observe we look you look at
stuff we observe we look you look at
stuff we observe we look you look at stuff in order to learn stuff and this
stuff in order to learn stuff and this
stuff in order to learn stuff and this is deceptively simple but it hasn’t been
is deceptively simple but it hasn’t been
is deceptively simple but it hasn’t been round as an idea since the Greeks people
round as an idea since the Greeks people
round as an idea since the Greeks people looked at stuff before I read them a
looked at stuff before I read them a
looked at stuff before I read them a beautiful account before which is highly
beautiful account before which is highly
beautiful account before which is highly typical of how they observed things
typical of how they observed things
typical of how they observed things before you look at things in nature in
before you look at things in nature in
before you look at things in nature in order to find out theological truths so
order to find out theological truths so
order to find out theological truths so there is a wonderful guy called gerald
there is a wonderful guy called gerald
there is a wonderful guy called gerald of wales who’s walking around ireland
of wales who’s walking around ireland
of wales who’s walking around ireland and observing things and learning from
and observing things and learning from
and observing things and learning from nature and he watches an osprey swimming
nature and he watches an osprey swimming
nature and he watches an osprey swimming into gliding into the water I’m picking
into gliding into the water I’m picking
into gliding into the water I’m picking up a fish and what does he learn from
up a fish and what does he learn from
up a fish and what does he learn from this he learns that this is how God
this he learns that this is how God
this he learns that this is how God captures Christian souls that’s what you
captures Christian souls that’s what you
captures Christian souls that’s what you learn from nature well bob lagrosse test
learn from nature well bob lagrosse test
learn from nature well bob lagrosse test was inclined to make similar conclusions
was inclined to make similar conclusions
was inclined to make similar conclusions sometimes but crucially he did this also
sometimes but crucially he did this also
sometimes but crucially he did this also he looked at nature he looked at what
he looked at nature he looked at what
he looked at nature he looked at what was happening he described it and he
was happening he described it and he
was happening he described it and he attempted to draw laws from it he is the
attempted to draw laws from it he is the
attempted to draw laws from it he is the first person in the world to know how
first person in the world to know how
first person in the world to know how the rainbow works and he does it by
the rainbow works and he does it by
the rainbow works and he does it by looking at rainbows he looks at them in
looking at rainbows he looks at them in
looking at rainbows he looks at them in water wheels he blows water out of his
water wheels he blows water out of his
water wheels he blows water out of his mouth into light to create rainbows and
mouth into light to create rainbows and
mouth into light to create rainbows and he looks at them in the sky and from
he looks at them in the sky and from
he looks at them in the sky and from that he makes deductions and once you
that he makes deductions and once you
that he makes deductions and once you make deductions from something you can
make deductions from something you can
make deductions from something you can apply them to other things so he looks
apply them to other things so he looks
apply them to other things so he looks at a prison he who works in optics and
at a prison he who works in optics and
at a prison he who works in optics and he looks at a prison creating the
he looks at a prison creating the
he looks at a prison creating the rainbow and he sees that it is created
rainbow and he sees that it is created
rainbow and he sees that it is created by light and translucent objects and he
by light and translucent objects and he
by light and translucent objects and he says he he says that this is something
says he he says that this is something
says he he says that this is something we can maybe now apply to other rainbows
we can maybe now apply to other rainbows
we can maybe now apply to other rainbows but then he looks at a rainbow in a
but then he looks at a rainbow in a
but then he looks at a rainbow in a ducts better and it is not caused by
ducts better and it is not caused by
ducts better and it is not caused by refraction he’s got this word refraction
refraction he’s got this word refraction
refraction he’s got this word refraction nobody’s ever described a rainbow like
nobody’s ever described a rainbow like
nobody’s ever described a rainbow like this before
this before
this before it’s refracted light and he looks the
it’s refracted light and he looks the
it’s refracted light and he looks the rainbow in there ducts feather and it’s
rainbow in there ducts feather and it’s
rainbow in there ducts feather and it’s not reflection that’s reflection but
not reflection that’s reflection but
not reflection that’s reflection but when I look at the rainbow in my prism
when I look at the rainbow in my prism
when I look at the rainbow in my prism in my studio and then look at the
in my studio and then look at the
in my studio and then look at the rainbow in the sky the same law applies
rainbow in the sky the same law applies
rainbow in the sky the same law applies after doctors from that how light is
after doctors from that how light is
after doctors from that how light is broken up and the same thing applies
broken up and the same thing applies
broken up and the same thing applies because this is a law and it applies
because this is a law and it applies
because this is a law and it applies down here and it applies up there and
down here and it applies up there and
down here and it applies up there and that rainbow up there is caused by
that rainbow up there is caused by
that rainbow up there is caused by refraction this is revolutionary this is
refraction this is revolutionary this is
refraction this is revolutionary this is revolutionary thought he also does
revolutionary thought he also does
revolutionary thought he also does something which is incredibly important
something which is incredibly important
something which is incredibly important I’m no understanding of how this has
I’m no understanding of how this has
I’m no understanding of how this has been brushed out of the history of
been brushed out of the history of
been brushed out of the history of science so consistently he says this all
science so consistently he says this all
science so consistently he says this all reality in our universe can be expressed
reality in our universe can be expressed
reality in our universe can be expressed in lines figures and angles in other
in lines figures and angles in other
in lines figures and angles in other words mathematics this is geometry and
words mathematics this is geometry and
words mathematics this is geometry and this is revolutionary as well because if
this is revolutionary as well because if
this is revolutionary as well because if you work out a mathematical law by
you work out a mathematical law by
you work out a mathematical law by observing something mathematics is
observing something mathematics is
observing something mathematics is universally true so how light behaves in
universally true so how light behaves in
universally true so how light behaves in in a what area of water in your in your
in a what area of water in your in your
in a what area of water in your in your room is exactly mathematically how light
room is exactly mathematically how light
room is exactly mathematically how light will behave everywhere in the universe
will behave everywhere in the universe
will behave everywhere in the universe and he can start working out universal
and he can start working out universal
and he can start working out universal laws now using geometry and that is
laws now using geometry and that is
laws now using geometry and that is incredibly important another reason why
incredibly important another reason why
incredibly important another reason why he is important I had nice pictures of
he is important I had nice pictures of
he is important I had nice pictures of rainbows and I forgot to show you them
rainbows and I forgot to show you them
rainbows and I forgot to show you them getting carried away inter with myself
getting carried away inter with myself
getting carried away inter with myself here’s his rainbows and that’s him lying
here’s his rainbows and that’s him lying
here’s his rainbows and that’s him lying on his back
on his back
on his back working water and you can’t quite see
working water and you can’t quite see
working water and you can’t quite see him in the picture but that’s a that’s
him in the picture but that’s a that’s
him in the picture but that’s a that’s what he’s doing there okay
what he’s doing there okay
what he’s doing there okay rainbows are caused by a refraction
rainbows are caused by a refraction
rainbows are caused by a refraction thanks to Robert cross test I campaign
thanks to Robert cross test I campaign
thanks to Robert cross test I campaign wants to have a statue of him in Lincoln
wants to have a statue of him in Lincoln
wants to have a statue of him in Lincoln for all different reasons but if he’d
for all different reasons but if he’d
for all different reasons but if he’d just done that he just laid on his back
just done that he just laid on his back
just done that he just laid on his back in the park I made her aim bows he
in the park I made her aim bows he
in the park I made her aim bows he should have a statue in this city okay
should have a statue in this city okay
should have a statue in this city okay there is another reason why he is great
there is another reason why he is great
there is another reason why he is great and it is this he is alike alike many
and it is this he is alike alike many
and it is this he is alike alike many scholars of him of his generation the
scholars of him of his generation the
scholars of him of his generation the first to say that there are no frontiers
first to say that there are no frontiers
first to say that there are no frontiers to knowledge knowledge is not the
to knowledge knowledge is not the
to knowledge knowledge is not the monopoly of a group of people in this
monopoly of a group of people in this
monopoly of a group of people in this case European Christians other people
case European Christians other people
case European Christians other people have been vouchsafed truths that’s also
have been vouchsafed truths that’s also
have been vouchsafed truths that’s also pretty spectacular and when he is
pretty spectacular and when he is
pretty spectacular and when he is working on the rainbow he’s not only
working on the rainbow he’s not only
working on the rainbow he’s not only looking at things but he’s got a text in
looking at things but he’s got a text in
looking at things but he’s got a text in his hand and that text comes from a
his hand and that text comes from a
his hand and that text comes from a heretic it comes from Arab genius called
heretic it comes from Arab genius called
heretic it comes from Arab genius called al Kindi
al Kindi
al Kindi who wrote in a tract called the burning
who wrote in a tract called the burning
who wrote in a tract called the burning glass about refraction and this is where
glass about refraction and this is where
glass about refraction and this is where Robert Krauss test is getting his
Robert Krauss test is getting his
Robert Krauss test is getting his knowledge from he’s peeking over the
knowledge from he’s peeking over the
knowledge from he’s peeking over the boundaries that Christian Europe has set
boundaries that Christian Europe has set
boundaries that Christian Europe has set itself which says for further from here
itself which says for further from here
itself which says for further from here there is no knowledge and understanding
there is no knowledge and understanding
there is no knowledge and understanding and he’s peeking at that and seeing that
and he’s peeking at that and seeing that
and he’s peeking at that and seeing that there is and he’s using it and this is
there is and he’s using it and this is
there is and he’s using it and this is wonderful stuff he’s using it with
wonderful stuff he’s using it with
wonderful stuff he’s using it with Jewish scholars he’s using it with Arab
Jewish scholars he’s using it with Arab
Jewish scholars he’s using it with Arab scholars the greatest scientists in
scholars the greatest scientists in
scholars the greatest scientists in Europe and in the world sorry at this
Europe and in the world sorry at this
Europe and in the world sorry at this time and he is also using it with a
time and he is also using it with a
time and he is also using it with a pagan scholars chief of all chief of all
pagan scholars chief of all chief of all
pagan scholars chief of all chief of all this great man Aristotle Aristotle who
this great man Aristotle Aristotle who
this great man Aristotle Aristotle who was banned in Europe at the beginning of
was banned in Europe at the beginning of
was banned in Europe at the beginning of the 13th centuries just arriving up from
the 13th centuries just arriving up from
the 13th centuries just arriving up from Muslim Spain and he’s banned because
Muslim Spain and he’s banned because
Muslim Spain and he’s banned because he’s saying something very very radical
he’s saying something very very radical
he’s saying something very very radical he saying you should use your senses to
he saying you should use your senses to
he saying you should use your senses to learn and this is of course heretical
learn and this is of course heretical
learn and this is of course heretical because we all know since Adam and Eve
because we all know since Adam and Eve
because we all know since Adam and Eve that we cannot use your senses we’re
that we cannot use your senses we’re
that we cannot use your senses we’re fooled creature fallen creatures and we
fooled creature fallen creatures and we
fooled creature fallen creatures and we can’t trust our senses we must use that
can’t trust our senses we must use that
can’t trust our senses we must use that have great books and great learning and
have great books and great learning and
have great books and great learning and above all the Bible and Aristotle is
above all the Bible and Aristotle is
above all the Bible and Aristotle is saying look and listen and use your
saying look and listen and use your
saying look and listen and use your senses Robert gracias makes him
senses Robert gracias makes him
senses Robert gracias makes him palatable – up – are you
palatable – up – are you
palatable – up – are you in audience and this is how he does it
in audience and this is how he does it
in audience and this is how he does it this is an incredible achievement I’m
this is an incredible achievement I’m
this is an incredible achievement I’m going about this in a very roundabout
going about this in a very roundabout
going about this in a very roundabout way but just bear with me for a second
way but just bear with me for a second
way but just bear with me for a second this is his very short treatise called
this is his very short treatise called
this is his very short treatise called there Luce concerning light and in this
there Luce concerning light and in this
there Luce concerning light and in this he says that at the beginning of the of
he says that at the beginning of the of
he says that at the beginning of the of these the creation of the universe we
these the creation of the universe we
these the creation of the universe we read this in Genesis God
read this in Genesis God
read this in Genesis God otters two words the first words spoken
otters two words the first words spoken
otters two words the first words spoken in the history of the cosmos he says he
in the history of the cosmos he says he
in the history of the cosmos he says he says fiat looks let there be light and
says fiat looks let there be light and
says fiat looks let there be light and at that moment there was light and light
at that moment there was light and light
at that moment there was light and light struck a part of our universe were there
struck a part of our universe were there
struck a part of our universe were there was matter but the matter was innate
was matter but the matter was innate
was matter but the matter was innate they didn’t have dimension and it didn’t
they didn’t have dimension and it didn’t
they didn’t have dimension and it didn’t exist in time it was innate and when
exist in time it was innate and when
exist in time it was innate and when light hits it costs Gloucester says it
light hits it costs Gloucester says it
light hits it costs Gloucester says it gives it corporality so now this matter
gives it corporality so now this matter
gives it corporality so now this matter exists in time and space but process is
exists in time and space but process is
exists in time and space but process is an observer and he who also watches how
an observer and he who also watches how
an observer and he who also watches how light behaves and when he is Litton is
light behaves and when he is Litton is
light behaves and when he is Litton is when his lit a lamp in his study he
when his lit a lamp in his study he
when his lit a lamp in his study he knows instantly that light fills his
knows instantly that light fills his
knows instantly that light fills his workshop because the light has a unique
workshop because the light has a unique
workshop because the light has a unique property in nature it can replicate
property in nature it can replicate
property in nature it can replicate itself at the speed he says of infinity
itself at the speed he says of infinity
itself at the speed he says of infinity or as we would say at the speed of light
or as we would say at the speed of light
or as we would say at the speed of light this happens and as it happens
this happens and as it happens
this happens and as it happens light drags matter with it all over the
light drags matter with it all over the
light drags matter with it all over the universe
universe
universe creating the planets the Stars the black
creating the planets the Stars the black
creating the planets the Stars the black holes and the solar systems this happens
holes and the solar systems this happens
holes and the solar systems this happens the first moment of creation highly
the first moment of creation highly
the first moment of creation highly sophisticated understanding of how our
sophisticated understanding of how our
sophisticated understanding of how our universe began and here is a lovely
universe began and here is a lovely
universe began and here is a lovely thing it doesn’t just stop there it
thing it doesn’t just stop there it
thing it doesn’t just stop there it doesn’t just stop there because what
doesn’t just stop there because what
doesn’t just stop there because what applies to the universe applies to your
applies to the universe applies to your
applies to the universe applies to your mind as well and in your mind you have
mind as well and in your mind you have
mind as well and in your mind you have knowledge and learning now observation
knowledge and learning now observation
knowledge and learning now observation is only the basis of that knowledge
is only the basis of that knowledge
is only the basis of that knowledge something wonderful is going to happen
something wonderful is going to happen
something wonderful is going to happen later on because when you prepared your
later on because when you prepared your
later on because when you prepared your mind with this observation and with this
mind with this observation and with this
mind with this observation and with this learning a thing happens called solar
learning a thing happens called solar
learning a thing happens called solar tear and at that moment an idea hits
tear and at that moment an idea hits
tear and at that moment an idea hits your head like God sending a lightning
your head like God sending a lightning
your head like God sending a lightning bolt to create the universe and as it
bolt to create the universe and as it
bolt to create the universe and as it hits your head you are filled with a
hits your head you are filled with a
hits your head you are filled with a wonderful idea you get it you know as
wonderful idea you get it you know as
wonderful idea you get it you know as you understand and that is solar tear
you understand and that is solar tear
you understand and that is solar tear it’s akin to the Big Bang
it’s akin to the Big Bang
it’s akin to the Big Bang it’s akin to the creation of the
it’s akin to the creation of the
it’s akin to the creation of the universe so I want to just finish saying
universe so I want to just finish saying
universe so I want to just finish saying this robert cross test deserves credit
this robert cross test deserves credit
this robert cross test deserves credit he deserves credit for for for for for
he deserves credit for for for for for
he deserves credit for for for for for showing us that all reality in this
showing us that all reality in this
showing us that all reality in this universe whether it’s our own bright
universe whether it’s our own bright
universe whether it’s our own bright ideas all the creation of the universe
ideas all the creation of the universe
ideas all the creation of the universe are underpinned by this wonderful
are underpinned by this wonderful
are underpinned by this wonderful phenomena the light fantastic and he has
phenomena the light fantastic and he has
phenomena the light fantastic and he has deserves credit also for this for firing
deserves credit also for this for firing
deserves credit also for this for firing great bolts of his own luminosity into
great bolts of his own luminosity into
great bolts of his own luminosity into an age which was far from the dark ages
an age which was far from the dark ages
an age which was far from the dark ages [Applause]
”
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