SR+-+Galileo+Galilei

Galileo Galilei: Astronomer of the Ages Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 in the town of Pisa, Italy. Galileo was the first of six children and was one of the four who survived infancy. His family moved to Florence when Galileo was 8 and he lived with Jacob Borghini for two years. Galileo considered becoming a priest, but enrolled for a medical degree at the University of Pisa because his father ordered him to. He did not get a degree in medical science, but got a degree in mathematics. Galileo became a professor at the University of Padua in 1591 after his father died. During this time, he made most of his major discoveries such as the improvement of the telescope and astronomical discoveries. He was a famous astronomy and is considered the father of modern physics, the father of modern observational astronomy, the father of science, and the father of modern science. Galileo discovered the phases of Venus which demonstrated the existence of other planets.

 Galileo defended heliocentrism and claimed it was not contrary to the scripture passages from the Bible. He believed that the writers of the scripture merely wrote from the perspective of the terrestrial world and it is from that vantage point that the Sun does rise and set. It was because of his staunch stance for heliocentrism that the church excommunicated him and he was set on house arres t. Heliocentrism is the concept is that the Sun is the center of the universe a nd the Earth moves.

 Galileo improved telescopes and paved the way for the study of astronomical observation. Galileo's astronomical observations demonstrated an emphasis on the newly emerging scientific method. Galileo's defiance of authority exemplified the spirit of the Scientific Revolution. He brought the defiance of authority the Renaissance is famous for to the Scientific Revolution. Galileo died in Arcetri, Italy on January 8th, 1642. Science and the Bible: Letter to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany

Galileo refutes the Church's biblical argument against heliocentrism through his promotion of logic. Galileo remarks that the BIble is ultimately figurative in nature when it clashes with natural laws, and that God also created the laws governing nature, and they therefore reign supreme. His argument and opposition to traditional authority demonstrate the general aura of the scientific revolution. The ultimate supremacy of the laws of science and nature, even over traditional constraints, typify the advances of the revolution. Our retrospective reverence of Galileo despite his judgment in life, illustrates the merit to his scientific advances. In the relative future, Pope John Paul II hails Galileo's wisdom and remarks that it is truly conducive with a moral philosophy, invalidating the Church authority's unenlightened view of the time.

 Key Quote: "But I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who had endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect, has intended to forgo their use and by some other means to give us knowledge which we can attain by them."