1. Ben Aldrich, Tom Garrity, Mike Kovatch
A Reconceptualization of the Galileo Conflict: Revelation versus Empiricism
Ben Aldrich, Tom Garrity, Mike Kovatch
Galileo Galilei was a natural philosopher of the seventeenth century whose support of Copernicus’ heliocentric theory of the solar system, based upon empirical evidence, was crucial to the theory’s eventual acceptance. Yet not all were pleased with the new model, notably the Roman Catholic Church for heliocentrism contradicted the long-held geocentric model supported by passages of the Holy Bible. This conflict between the Church and Galileo, which led to the trial and eventual house arrest of Galileo, is often portrayed as a clash between religion and science in which the two sides cannot coexist.
Key Points in Development of Heliocentrism:
Phases of Venus
Moons of Jupiter
Supernova
Sunspots
Retrograde motion
De Revolutionibus
Published (1543)
Complete/Publish
Dialogue ( )
Ptolemy (2nd Century AD)
Copernicus finishes
De Revolutionibus
(1532)
Letter to Grand
Duchess Christina
(1615)
Sidereus
Nuncius
(1610)
Letter to Kepler
about Copernican
Model (1597)
“Commentariolus”
(1514)
Council Of
Trent (1545)
Church issues warning
for Copernicus’ theory,
bans De Revolutionibus
(1616)
Copernicus (1473)
Protestant
Reformation
(1517)
Kepler Publishes
Astronomia Nova
(1609)
Dead (1642)
Galileo Galilei
(1564)
Imprisonment/Trial (1633)
Letter to Castelli
(1613)
Receives papal
permission (1624)
Modern Reconceptualization: Our research focuses on a reconceptualization of this conflict as one not between religion and science, but between two different methods of acquiring knowledge; through revelation or through empiricism. The removal of the words religion and science allow for the study of this conflict as two sides of the debate over the proper means of acquiring knowledge, and not a fight between two unique and disjointed factions. Ultimately, the Church’s power allowed their belief in biblical literalism to be accepted over the biblical accommodationism which Galileo promoted.
Key Quotes:
“Our method of acquiring knowledge proceeds with reasoning by steps from one conclusion to another, while for God it is one of simple intuition.” – Dialogue
“Whatever sensory experience places before our eyes or necessary demonstrations prove to us concerning natural effects should not in any way be called into question on account of Scriptural passages.” – Galileo to Castelli
“Given that the two Truths [the Truth of God and the Truth of Nature] can never contradict each other, the task of the wise interpreters is to strive to find the true meaning of scriptural passages agreeing with those physical conclusions of which we are certain and sure from clear sensory experiences or necessary demonstrations.“ – Letter to Grand Duchess Christina
Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems – Galileo Galilei
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium – Nicolaus Copernicus
The Galileo Affair – Maurice A Finocchiaro
Galileo and Reconceptualizing the History of Science and Religion – David B Wilson
Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction – Richard J Blackwell
INTD 220: History of the Physical Sciences
Drs. Cope, McLean, Towsley