Galileo’s Copernican Theory Or The Heliocentric System

'Galileo’s Copernican Theory or The Heliocentric System'

Introduction

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, and died on January 8, 1642, in Arcetri, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Italy. As an Italian polymath, Galileo was a central figure in the transformation of the scientific Renaissance into a scientific revolution (Drake, 1978). His work on speed and velocity, gravity and free fall, the principle of relativity, inertia, and projectile motion was groundbreaking. He also made significant contributions to applied science and technology, describing the properties of pendulums and hydrostatic balances, inventing the thermoscope and various military compasses, and using the telescope for scientific observations of celestial objects. His contributions to observational astronomy include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter, the observation of Saturn's rings (though he could not discern their true nature), and the analysis of sunspots (Shea, 1972).

Galileo's Embrace of the Heliocentric Theory

Galileo embraced the theory of the Earth revolving around the Sun, known as the Copernican theory or the Heliocentric system. After 1610, when he used his telescope to discover celestial bodies that had never been observed before, Galileo was convinced he had found proof of the Copernican theory (Gingerich, 1993). According to the Grande Dizionario Enciclopedico UTET, Galileo sought more than making discoveries; he aimed to convince the princes and cardinals that his Heliocentric System was true. He desired the Church's support and no objection.

Galileo's Challenges with the Church

In 1611, Galileo traveled to Rome, where he met high-ranking clergy and demonstrated his astronomical discoveries using his telescope. However, things turned sour, and by 1616, he was put under watch by the clergy. The Heliocentric Theory was labeled as "philosophically foolish and obscured." Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, considered the greatest Catholic theologian of his time, met with Galileo and rebuked him, instructing him to stop spreading his ideas about the sun-centered system (Fantoli, 1996).

The Inquisition and Its Aftermath

Despite the rebuke, Galileo did not renounce his ideas of the Copernican Theory. In 1633, Galileo appeared in front of the Inquisition court, a battered old man. The previous cardinal who had rebuked him was dead, and Galileo's obstacle was Pope Urban VIII, who was more flexible. The trial, along with those of Socrates and Jesus, was considered one of the most unjust in history (Langford, 1966). The publication of "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" by Galileo reactivated heliocentrism, which rose opposition. Ordered to present himself in court, Galileo, due to old age, was ill. He was ordered again, and through threats and force, he went to Rome the next year. He was questioned by the Pope.

Galileo's Legacy

Galileo was severely interrogated. Italo Mereu, a historian, stated that according to Italian Law, such examinations often included torture, with few scholars disagreeing. In any case, Galileo was condemned in 1633 by the Inquisition Court and later sent to house arrest due to his old age. He was found guilty of "having held and believed false doctrine, contrary to the Holy and Divine Scriptures, that the Sun... does not move from east to west and that the Earth moves and is not the center of the world" (Westfall, 1989).

Not wanting to become a martyr, Galileo was forced to recant. After his sentence hearing, he gravely announced: "I do abjure, curse, and detest the said errors and heresies [the Copernican theory] and in general all and any other error, heresy, or sect contrary to the Holy Church." Some say that after admitting this, he stomped his foot and said, "And yet it does move" (Finocchiaro, 1989).

Claims were made that the shame of abandoning his beliefs tortured him until his death. Near his death, Galileo became blind, causing him to live in isolation as he was sent to house arrest due to his age. Many people believe that science and religion should not be mixed, hence Galileo’s example. Although the Pope at that time took the scriptures in the Bible literally, it does not mean that the Bible does not support the sun-centered theory. Many believe that the notion that the Bible does not support science is untrue due to examples of the Bible stating the Earth was round. Another example is when God told the Israelites the proper way to remove waste, reducing illness, which was later proven correct by science when examining epidemics like the Black Plague (Lindberg & Numbers, 1986).

Galileo himself admitted this while writing to an apprentice, saying that the Bible should not always be taken literally, as it is quite figuratively written. This case was a compromise because Galileo had to live in isolation and fear due to the people of his time not understanding the book they condemned him for. Galileo also said that the book of life and the Bible were written by the same person. Due to the Pope’s actions, people began to believe less in the Pope and more in science, as science relies on facts and proof (Redondi, 1987).

Conclusion

Galileo's legacy endures as a symbol of the conflict between science and religious dogma. His unwavering pursuit of truth, even in the face of persecution, laid the groundwork for the modern scientific method. Today, Galileo is celebrated not only for his discoveries but also for his courage in challenging the status quo, reminding us of the importance of questioning established beliefs in the pursuit of knowledge.

References

• Drake, S. (1978). Galileo at Work: His Scientific Biography. University of Chicago Press.
• Fantoli, A. (1996). Galileo: For Copernicanism and for the Church. Vatican Observatory Publications.
• Finocchiaro, M. A. (1989). The Galileo Affair: A Documentary History. University of California Press.
• Gingerich, O. (1993). The Eye of Heaven: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler. American Institute of Physics.
• Langford, J. J. (1966). Galileo, Science, and the Church. University of Michigan Press.
• Lindberg, D. C., & Numbers, R. L. (1986). God and Nature: Historical Essays on the Encounter between Christianity and Science. University of California Press.
• Redondi, P. (1987). Galileo Heretic. Princeton University Press.
• Shea, W. R. (1972). Galileo's Intellectual Revolution. Science History Publications.
• Westfall, R. S. (1989). Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton. Cambridge University Press.