(meteorobs) Error Regarding Galileo

George Gliba gliba at milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov
Thu Apr 28 15:00:40 EDT 2005


On Thu, Apr 28, 2005 at 02:36:33PM -0400, Terry Richardson wrote:
> 
> On Apr 28, 2005, at 11:17 AM, George Gliba wrote:
> 
> >
> >Keep religion out of it. The Catholics burned Giordano Bruno to the 
> >steak in
> >1600, and put Galileo under house arrest for their modern scientific 
> >thoughts.
> >
> 
> George et al.,
> 
> Though off topic, I am compelled to make a brief response to correct 
> the oft repeated misconception that Galileo was persecuted for his 
> scientific thoughts. (Bruno is a separate and very different issue.)
> 
> 1. Let me say first I am not Roman Catholic nor am I at all fond of 
> that branch of the Church.
> 
> 2. I am a long time member of HAD (the historical division of the 
> American Astronomical Society).
> 
> 3. I am fond of the truth.
> 
> 4. The record clearly shows that Galileo was a jerk and created the 
> entire mess that resulted in his house arrest (and I will privately 
> send references those requesting them-it is exam time so be patient). 
> As one example we have a letter to Galileo from Monsignor Giovanni 
> Ciampoli in Feb. of 1615 explaining to Galileo that Cardinal Barberini 
> (the future Pope Urbane VIII) just the day before said how much he 
> admired Galileo's worth but wanted him to use caution in not exceeding 
> the limitations of physics and mathematics and in particular to stop 
> interpreting scripture which was the job of theologians. It was the 
> interpretation of scripture which got him in trouble.

Interesting point, but I'm sure many historians would also agree that Galileo
was not a "jerk". The theologians also said Earth was created around 4,000 BCE
and that Copernicus was wrong. Perhaps Pope Urbane VIII (Simplicio) and many
other theologians of the time were also "jerks".

GWG



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