6A - The Galileo Affair & Scientific Discovery

Question 1

mappa mundi

Answer 1

Latin for “map of the world

Question 2

It was ______who described the universe as a series of rotating crystal spheres: one resting inside another

Answer 2

Claudius Ptolemy

Question 3

ptolemy geocentric theory

Answer 3

• developed a geocentric theory of the universe
• • the Earth to be fixed at the center of an enclosed universe around which the stars and planetary bodies moved.
• thought the universe was surrounded by nothing and enclosed within the most perfect geometric shape, a sphere. Beyond the last great crystal sphere, you could find the heavens – the abode of the gods and goddesses.

Question 4

Interesting, according to Ptolemy’s model of the universe the giant revolving crystal spheres were not silent. According to the ancient Greeks, as the spheres rotated each of them made tones. The concept of the ‘___, described by Pythagoras in the 6th century BCE as the inaudible, perfect harmony that celestial bodies make as they travel their sphere, was an idea still popular in the medieval university.

Answer 4

music of the spheres’

Question 5

Copernicus rejected the Ptolemaic, geocentric theory of the universe and instead proposed that the Sun was the center; this was a ____ theory.

Answer 5

heliocentric

Question 6

Copernicus was a devout man who had studied_____- (Church) law in addition to mathematics and optics and he understood that his findings would affect not only the calendar that society used but might bring into question the understanding of the cosmos that had been passed down since Aristotle.

Answer 6

canon

Question 7

Copernicus vs Ptoemy – As far as the Church was concerned, this was an interesting mathematic puzzle – there was no theology or religion involved and so people could hold whatever theory they believed by their own choice.

Answer 7

While this was not a religious matter, nevertheless, the debate led many people to look to the Catholic Church for an authoritative decision about the position of the Earth, and therefore the place of human beings, within the universe. The Catholic Church had traditionally supported an Aristotelian worldview because of its place in the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. In addition, theologians were able to argue that there was some scriptural precedent for conceiving of the Earth as a fixed, immovable sphere (Jos. 10:13; Job. 38.4,6; Ecc. 1.5; Ps. 104.5; 1 Sam. 2.9; Is. 48.13). These Bible passages mention how the Earth is ‘fixed’ and how God had set it upon immovable pillars. Thus, when asked for an official position, the Church often stated that Ptolemy’s geocentric model was the best choice

Question 8

Interestingly, the trouble first began with another early scientist – _____, a Dominican priest living in Italy. He was an amateur scientist, a philosopher, and an eccentric theologian. Bruno believed that the Copernican theory of a geocentric universe was correct but more than that, Bruno began to write about a new conception of the cosmos – an infinite, eternal universe with endless space, where stars are other suns and multiple solar-systems held life that was much more advanced than human beings. In a bizarre combination, Bruno began to invent a new type of theology and religion, one that was a mix of old Arian Christian ideas, Protestant theology, alchemy, astronomy and astrology. He then began to teach this blended mix of science and religion to people around Europe. He soon drew the attention of Church authorities who accused him of heresy and was sought out by agents of the ________________ in order to face a trail.

Answer 8

Giordano Bruno, Office of the Inquisition – ended up being burned at the stake for his views

Question 9

the Office of the Inquisition (from the Latin verb inquiro meaning “inquire into”)’s role

Answer 9

its job was to seek out those people holding religious or theological ideas not in accord with the Church.

–Such people were considered heretics and enemies of society.

-The Inquisition had a number of powers in order to fight against other religions and Protestantism, one of which was to place someone’s writings on a list of books which offended faith or morals―The Index of Forbidden Books.

Question 10

The Index of Forbidden Books.

Answer 10

The job of the Inquisition was simple: to make someone confess their heresy. Once someone had confessed their errors, they were given the opportunity to recant, to conform to Catholic philosophical and religious ideas and then do proper penance. After that, they were free to go, however the entire process was horrifying and often led to exile or death.

Question 11

The job of the Inquisition was simple:

Answer 11

to make someone confess their heresy

• Once someone had confessed their errors, they were given the opportunity to recant, to conform to Catholic philosophical and religious ideas and then do proper penance. After that, they were free to go, however the entire process was horrifying and often led to exile or death.

Question 12

Galileo Galilei

Answer 12

• did not invent the telescope, but in 1610 was able to incorporate Dutch spyglasses into a telescope to intensify his view of space.

–With the enhanced magnification, Galileo significantly observed that four moons orbited around the planet Jupiter and that they contained discolourations, spots and craters, which cast doubt on the long-held belief in perfect crystal spheres.

–His observations supported Copernicus’ theory that more than one celestial body was orbiting around another, and that the Sun could be the celestial body at the center of the universe.

Question 13

who did Galileo show his evidence to

Answer 13

Robert Cardinal Bellarmine - the head of the Inquisition in Rome and warned Galileo not to make the same mistake as Giordano Bruno (to teach that science and religion were somehow the same things, intertwined with heretical beliefs).

-There were many celestial questions that Galileo’s academic theory could not answer, and it was thus interesting but not to be definitively accepted as the truth.

Question 14

Since there were no absolute proofs for Copernicus, Galileo wanted to publish a mathematical proof based upon his idea that the ocean’s tidal-action could prove geocentrism. By 1615 he went to Rome to ask permission to publish and teach Copernicus’s model. After a lengthy study of the issue, the pope at the time, ______(1552-1621), said no.

Answer 14

Paul V

Question 15

Galileo’s expansion of Copernicus’ theory was starting controversy within academic circles. After hearing the decision of Paul V, he was advised not to share his theory. The central issue was not heliocentrism versus geocentrism but rather the expression of the idea that science might have disproved scripture.**

Answer 15

jj

Question 16

The Office of the Inquisition considered charging Galileo with suspicion of heresy in 1615 but instead issued a decree that heliocentrism not be accepted as fact because it was in fact no more proven true than the geocentric theory. Annoyed with the decision, but wary of the power of the Inquisition, Galileo returned to his home city of Florence and waited for his fortunes to change. He did not have to wait long, for in the year 1623, Galileo’s friend, _________ ‒ a member of a powerful Italian family ‒ was elected Pope and became Urban VIII (1623-1644)

Answer 16

Maffeo Barberini

Question 17

full story of Galileo and urban viii

Answer 17

Urban and Galileo had become great friends.
–When Urban VIII was in charge, Galileo had six audiences with him during which he was finally granted permission to write on Copernicus’ views as a “mathematical hypothesis”.

Urban VIII supported Galileo’s thoughts - He encouraged Galileo to publish a discussion that would present both heliocentric and geocentric views in the form of a dialogue – avoiding the decree not to advocate for heliocentrism without proof and to present a balanced argument.

However, The Dialogue included an intelligent, clever proponent of heliocentrism but the supporter of geocentricism was presented as a fool. Throughout the book, the clever character tore down old Aristotelian ideas and showed his position as the only proper one.

-The last straw broke when a copy of the book was sent to Urban VIII. Upon reading the book, Urban came to the last few pages where he was shocked to find that Galileo had included a copy of Urban’s own opinions, word for word, on the Copernican model and insulted them through the characters in the book – Urban was enraged.

Pope Urban immediately ordered the Inquisition to set a trial for Galileo in Rome and ordered him to renounce Copernican theory, to be imprisoned indefinitely, and to be penitent. Galileo realized the severity of the situation and quickly formally recanted his support of heliocentrism

• He was then ordered to return to his house in Florence and never again publish. He lived out his remaining years in Florence and then in a country villa with his family. Pope Urban VII refused to revoke Galileo’s sentence and when the scientist died in 1642 he was left buried in an unmarked tomb for years.

Question 18

results of Galileos conflict with the church

Answer 18

Over the years, dramatizations of Galileo’s conflict with the Catholic Church have led to the perception that the dispute was between science and faith. However, when one considers the progression of events at the time one can note a discernable personality conflict. The greatest tragedy in this case was the damage that was done to the relationship between the Church and the scientific community. For many years to come, the Church would be suspicious of scientific discoveries, new technologies and philosophies aimed towards scientific methods. A rift developed the sciences and religious study that contributed to much distrust and animosity.
Hundreds of years later, to clarify the events that led to the conflict, Pope John Paul II ordered a re- examination of the legendary dispute between Galileo and the Catholic Church. In 1981, the pope

constituted a commission of historians, scientists and theologians in order to examine the events between Galileo and Urban. At its closure, Pope John Paul II emphasized the commonality of greater truths shared between science and faith and encouraged individuals not to let the Galileo affair prevent the building of a harmonious relationship between science and faith. Today, the Church often looks to the Galileo affair as an example not to let personal biases and relationships interfere with larger questions of truth and discovery. The Pontifical Academy of Science and the Vatican Observatory support scientific research across the world from astronomy and biology to genetics and mathematics.