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The
Infinite
Book
Fig 7.1 Some imaginary flat and curved 'Earths'.
the curved surface of a ball. But, we shall see, our current understanding of the Universe provides us with other more unusual possibilities. In most old cultures there were systems of belief which incorporated a theory or a legend about the nature of the Universe and our position within it. These beliefs, perhaps in the form of creation myths or stories about how the world remains in being, had an important psychological role to play. They gave humanity a meaningful place within the cosmic scheme of things. They pushed back the boundaries of the unknown to places where they could have no immediate impact upon what happened here and now. In this context the question of whether the Universe went on forever, or whether it came to a stop, was one that needed an answer that fitted in with beliefs about other things.3 The first of the modern European astronomers to pursue the idea that the Universe might be infinite in size was the English astronomer Thomas Digges (1546—95). Digges, a scientist and military scholar, was one of the few early supporters of Copernicus's new