Galileo Galilei is the greatest of the founders of modern science, with the possible exception of Newton. He was born on about the day on which Michelangelo died, and he died in the year in which Newton was born. He has often been called the Father of Modern Observational Astronomy the Father of Modern Physics, and the Father of Modern Science, yet Galileo, as every one knows, was condemned by the Inquisition. He was condemned for championing the heliocentrism universe when most subscribed to geocentrism. The Inquisition concluded that heliocentrism was false and contrary to scripture. He was condemned first privately in 1616, and then publicly in 1633, on which latter occasion he recanted under pain of torture, and promised never again to maintain that the earth rotates or revolves. The Inquisition was very successful in putting an end to science in Italy, which did not revive there for centuries. But it failed to prevent men of science from adopting the heliocentric theory, and did considerable damage to the Church by its brute stupidity. Fortunately there were Protestant countries, where the clergy, however anxious to do harm to science, were unable to gain control of the State. -Bertrand Russell A History of Western Philosophy, Book Three Modern Philosophy, Chapter VI The Rise of Science, p. 534
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:47:15 +0000
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