Zdeněk Horský (1929–1988)

PhDr. Zdeněk Horský, CSc., is one of the founding figures of the study of the history of natural and exact sciences. He graduated in philosophy and musicology at the Faculty of Philosophy, and also studied astronomy and mathematics at the Faculty of Science of Charles University: the intertwining of the humanities and the exact sciences determined his career as a historian of astronomy. At the beginning of his career, he was employed at the Department (see also history). Horský was only able to pursue scientific research to a limited extent during the period of normalisation, and many of his scientific works have survived only in incomplete form. He died prematurely, having left behind research plans and unfinished manuscripts.

The Zdeněk Horský Prize for outstanding graduate work in the history of science and education has been awarded by the Society for the History of Science and Technology since 2012.

The Department of Philosophy and History of Science has developed a more systematic interest in the Horský's scholarly heritage, with an objective of documenting and publishing his work, or of following up on some of his intentions. Activities are centred around a working group on Renaissance philosophy and science.

Selected results with other relevant data:

Z. Horský, Koperník a české země. Soubor studií o renesanční kosmologii a nové vědě, ed. V. Hladký, T. Hermann, I. Lelková, Červený Kostelec 2011.

M. Koperník, O obězích nebeských sfér. První kniha, transl. Z. Horský, ed. V. Hladký, Praha – Červený Kostelec 2016.

T. Hermann, Zdeněk Horský – Člověk renesance v našem věku, in: Homines scientiarum, II. Třicet příběhů české vědy a filosofie, Praha 2015, s. 125–158; here will be audio-visual documentary to download

An English translation of Horský's Kepler in Prague (1980) is being prepared, complete with bibliography and notes.

Contact: Vojtěch Hladký, Ph.D.