Galileo’s Copernican Theory Or The Heliocentric System

Introduction

Born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, Italy, Galileo Galilei was the first of six children in a family where his father was a lutenist and composer. Galileo is often regarded as the father of modern science due to his groundbreaking discoveries in physics, mathematics, and engineering.

The Embrace of Copernican Theory

Galileo embraced the theory of the Earth revolving around the Sun, contrary to the geocentric model. This theory is also known as the Copernican Theory or the Heliocentric System. After 1610, when he used his telescope to observe celestial bodies that had never been seen before, Galileo was convinced he had found proof of the Copernican Theory (Drake, 1978).

Galileo's Ambitions and the Church

According to the Grande Dizionario Enciclopedico UTET, Galileo aimed to do more than make discoveries; he hoped to convince the princes and cardinals that his Heliocentric System was indeed true. He sought the Church’s support and no opposition (Shea, 1998).

Challenges and Opposition

In 1611, Galileo traveled to Rome, where he met high-ranking clergy and demonstrated his astronomical discoveries using his telescope. However, by 1616, Galileo was put under watch by the clergy, who labeled the Heliocentric Theory as "philosophically foolish, and obscure" (Westfall, 1989).

The Inquisition and Trial

Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, considered the greatest Catholic theologian of his time, met with Galileo and rebuked him, urging him to stop spreading the sun-centered system. Despite this, Galileo did not renounce his ideas. He appeared in front of the Inquisition court in 1633, a battered old man. His obstacle was now Pope Urban VIII, who was more flexible. The trial, along with those of Socrates and Jesus, is considered one of the most unjust in history (Finocchiaro, 1989).

Publication and Consequences

The publication of "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" by Galileo reignited the heliocentric debate and rose opposition. Ordered to present himself in court, Galileo, due to old age and illness, was forced to travel to Rome the next year. He was severely interrogated, and according to historian Italo Mereu, such examinations often included torture (Mereu, 1991). Galileo was condemned by the Inquisition Court in 1633 and later placed under house arrest due to his age.

Recantation and Legacy

Galileo 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." 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" (Galilei, 2001).

Impact on Science and Religion

Some say after admitting this, he stomped his foot and said: "And yet it does move." Claims were made that the shame of abandoning his beliefs tortured him until his death. Galileo became blind near his death, causing him to live in isolation under house arrest due to his age. Many believe that science and religion should not be mixed, citing Galileo’s example.

Reflection on the Church and Science

Though the Pope at that time took the scriptures in the Bible literally, this 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, as seen in examples where the Bible states the Earth was round. Another example is when God instructed the Israelites on proper waste disposal, which was later proven correct by science during epidemics like the Black Plague (Lindberg & Numbers, 1986).

Galileo's Perspective

Galileo expressed in a letter to an apprentice that the Bible should not always be taken literally, as it is often written figuratively. 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. He also said that the book of life and the Bible were written by the same person (Galilei, 2001).

Conclusion

Due to the Pope’s actions, people began to believe less in the Pope and more in science, which relies on facts and proof. Galileo’s trials and tribulations highlight the complex relationship between science and religion, and his legacy continues to influence the way we view this dynamic today (Reston, 1994).

References

• Drake, S. (1978). Galileo at Work: His Scientific Biography. University of Chicago Press.
• Finocchiaro, M. A. (1989). The Galileo Affair: A Documentary History. University of California Press.
• Galilei, G. (2001). Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. Modern Library.
• Lindberg, D. C., & Numbers, R. L. (1986). God and Nature: Historical Essays on the Encounter Between Christianity and Science. University of California Press.
• Mereu, I. (1991). A History of Torture. Blackwell Publishers.
• Reston, J. (1994). Galileo: A Life. HarperCollins.
• Shea, W. R. (1998). Galileo's Intellectual Revolution: Middle Period. Science History Publications.
• Westfall, R. S. (1989). The Construction of Modern Science: Mechanisms and Mechanics. Cambridge University Press.