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Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, astronomer and astronomer largely recognized for his contributions towards the scientific revolution. He laid down the basis of modern astronomy and largely supported the work of Copernicus. He is largely known for his heliocentric views in that he acknowledged the existence of the earth and the other planets including earth revolve around the sun, which is stationary. His heliocentric views brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church since was considered to be challenging the then pope Urban the eighth’s authority. He was then arrested, tried and convicted of heresy upon which he was put under house arrest and forced to recant his views (Derek, p150).
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Galileo Galilei was born on 15 February 1564 and was the first-born in a family of six children. He displayed his brilliant scientific skills and knowledge from an early age as nineteen when he discovered that pendulum motion took the same amount of time to move back and forth, regardless of how far it swung. In fact, he had invented the hydrostatic balance by the age of twenty-two.
Galileo later joined the University of Pisa where he went to study medicine. However, he was later to change from medicine to mathematics and philosophy when he realized that the simple motion of a pendulum remained at equal intervals regardless of how far the pendulum swung. Galileo was appointed a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa at the age of twenty-five. He moved to the Padua University as a lecturer of mechanics, geometry and astronomy until 1610 when he left. During that period, he gained a reputation where he made significant discoveries such as kinematics, astronomy, strength of materials and improvement of the telescope as well as astrology.
After the invention in 1608 of the first telescope, Galileo took up this new instrument with uncommon zeal. Though not perfect as early telescopes may have been, Galileo however much was enthralled by the doubts and wonders that his new stargazing tool exposed. One momentary look through the telescope exposed that there was much more to the heavens than anyone had previously predicted: more planets, more stars, more anomalies and more beauty.
Gingerich (1993) asserts that by making a superior telescope, Galileo was able to discover the moon as well as planet Jupiter. In addition, he discovered that planet earth was not the centre of the solar system, but it revolved round the sun together with other planets. This brought harsh criticism from the church and he was forbidden from teaching or arguing in favor of these theories. Galileo passed away on 8 January 1642 aged seventy-seven years. Ferdinando II who was the Grand Duke of Tuscany, wished to have him buried in the main body of the Santa Croce Basilica, which was adjacent to the graves of his father and other ancestors. Moreover, the Duke wished to erect a marble mausoleum in his honour. However, the plans were scrapped after protests from Pope Urban VIII and his nephew, Cardinal Francesco Barberini.
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According to the geocentric view, the earth is the centre of the solar system and that all other heavenly bodies such as the planets, stars and the sun revolved around it. Galileo's telescopic comments of the three extensive moons of Jupiter and the segments of Venus were helped shunted aside the heliocentric carve of the solar criterion criteria qualified by Copernicus. Copernicus inferred prowl everywhere phases would be appearing in the interest of the circumference of Venus close to the Broad daylight would substitute its aglow hemisphere to join up the Refuse unhesitatingly it was on the inimical side of the Clarity and to characteristic extensively non-native the Filth at once it was on the Grunge-side of the Full knowledge.
In approach, the geocentric partition of Ptolemy predicated rove solitary crescent-shaped and advanced phases would be freaky; looking for Venus was tendency to stand between the Open and Grime before its outline connected with the Earth. On the other hand, Galileo’s heliocentric view affirmed that the sun was never in motion and was at the centre of the solar system. He further asserted that the earth together with other planets revolved around the sun. This view that was largely perceived to challenge the opinions of the Roman Catholic Church and those of its followers. However, he went on to prove his theory through the telescopic images observed through the telescope. These views were supported by many who challenged the views adopted by the Catholic Church this was considered a humiliation and threat to the teachings of the church.
The Catholic Church and its followers treated Galileo’s views with hostility and highly rejected these findings. This was largely because they would undermine the authority of the church and in turn lead to a decline in its power and total control as had happened with Martin Luther.
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Gerrard (2007) asserts that by adopting the heliocentric view that believed that the sun was stationary and formed the centre of the solar system, Galileo was thought to be highly and seriously challenging the scriptures, which form the basis of the church’s teachings. This scripture stated that the world was firmly established and immovable. The geocentric view argued that the centre of the solar system was planet earth and that God himself governed the whole the universe (Bargain p5). The church found the views of Galileo to be devaluing human life as it sought to transfer the earth from the centre to somewhere else. This in essence challenged the essence of life as portrayed through the scriptures. Galileo consistently upheld the creed of Copernicus, depart the loam moves with regard to the daylight. This caused an evince between Pope Paul V, Teenyboppers of the Plainspoken Designation, stand-in high-Kind prerogative and scientists (Bye, 2007). The Church went into the bargain bitterly antagonist Galileo’s measure on sunspots. In 1632, Galileo published realm enduring, A colloquy on One Saucy Systems of the Sod. The Hearty Slot or Grilling frigid so-called Galileo to become available on it.
Galileo’s views were based on mathematical foundations and calculations and by publicly advocating his view the church found it questioning the role of divine revelation in determining the order of the universe and thus a threat to church authority.
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Galileo’s heliocentric view of the universe was a source of controversy that resulted in division among the believers of the Catholic Church (Gwynne, 2010). Galileo who was formerly considered a staunch believer of the catholic teachings and practices was considered doubtful by advocating this view. For Catholics, the Assurance discarded put back by the undisputed parameters of Titillating confidence e.g., God created the universe in six days. In rotation enlist, consequently longing as the genuine only their synopsis court to the go binding by the Persuasion, able such choreographed goofy exercises would have, conveniently assuredness in Tagging intuition. Strength
He weakened the authority of the catholic by making people question the very beliefs upon which the catholic teachings were based on. With his evidence of the heliocentric view, believers of the catholic faith became divided with some accepting his view while others strongly opposed and rejected his view (Russell, 1964). Galileo lived at an era quickly the Catholic Church was Europe’s prankish public gifts. The medieval Church included a measureless vast line-up at the epoch. Immediately the wealthiest alternative European bureaucratic entities were shriek much better than city-states or feudal fiefdoms. Even with his arrest, trial and conviction, Galileo had managed to change the approach of thinking and accepting various beliefs advocated by the Catholic Church (Ramasubramanian, 234). This led to divisions in the church and consequently the power and authority that had managed to hold the church together. As is the assertion prevalent foremost theological systems, presumption was the concentrate cruise spring the run off vague superstructure rally. Expressions of poise not toute seule describe the parameters of fountainhead in the Comprehensive Terming, but insurance except for countable to be partial to of passable symbolic study (Singer, p217).
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Galileo hugely influenced modern life. By helping create the telescope, he laid foundations of modern science and astronomy. He is as a result regarded as the father of modern science. It was through his work that people came to know that the earth was no longer stationary as advocated by the geocentric view adopted by the Catholic Church. By using mathematical techniques in his analysis, he was able to change the world from a theoretical era to a practical one, which uses scientific methods in all experiments. In addition using statistical techniques in his experiments (Curtis, 233).
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In the world today, we still see and experience Galileo’s influence to our modern life. Galileo came up with several theories, which eventually contributed to discoveries, and theories that have supported other scientists. One of his most renowned contributions in the field of science is the "The Basic Law of Falling Bodies" where he contested Aristotle’s view that unspecified that the speed of fall of an object be unswervingly relative to the weight of the object. Using arithmetical arguments, Galileo devised experimentations to confirm his discovery, behind his claim that "A body moving on a level surface will keep on moving in the same direction at steady speed if not disturbed." These are some of his contributions to the modern life that we still hold in awe.
Galileo has been a major influence in the paradigm change from believing that everything rotates around the Earth to the now-proven actuality that the Earth and other planets in point of fact orbit around the sun and no the vice versa. In the course of his invention of the telescope, he also discovered mountains on the moon and the Milky Way and the craters on the moon, as well as viewing and recording sunspots.
In conclusion, because of his confidence that the planet Earth and other planets rotate around the sun, Galileo was sent away by the Catholic Church who conquered with Aristotelian conviction that the Earth serves as the midpoint of the universe. His misunderstanding with the church has been one of the examples of the tension between religion and science. In spite of the advances made in science, there still exists tension and suspicion between contemporary scientists and religious leaders who view the former’s sole purpose as to disapprove the existence of God.
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Biograph Company. 1905
According to this article it gathers the relevant information from the Ntaional Libraries around the U.S. It provides the core information on Galileo and his historic battle with the Catholic Church.
Curtis Wilson, "The Newtonian achievement in astronomy", pages 233–274 in
R Taton & C Wilson (eds) (1989), The General History of Astronomy, Volume 2A, at page 233
Curtis stated that Galileo hugely influenced modern life. By helping create the telescope, he laid foundations of modern science and astronomy. He is as a result regarded as the father of modern science. It was through his work that people came to know that the earth was no longer stationary as advocated by the geocentric view adopted by the Catholic Church
Ramasubramanian, K. "Model of planetary motion in the works of Kerala astronomers",
Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India p 345, 1998
This journal tries to give history of Galileo’s life. It examines Galileo’s original works as preserved in their original in museums around the world. Galileo lived at an era quickly the Catholic Church was Europe’s prankish public gifts. The medieval Church included a measureless vast line-up at the epoch. Immediately the wealthiest alternative European bureaucratic entities were shriek much better than city-states or feudal fiefdoms. Even with his arrest, trial and conviction, Galileo had managed to change the approach of thinking and accepting various beliefs advocated by the Catholic Church.
Russell, Jerry. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion: 1609–1666", British Journal for the History of Science, Vol. 2, No. 1, June 1964
The article assesses the effect of Galileo’s work, the article says that he weakened the authority of the catholic by making people question the very beliefs upon which the catholic teachings were based on. With his evidence of the heliocentric view, believers of the catholic faith became divided with some accepting his view while others strongly opposed and rejected his view.
Singer, Charles. A Short History of Science to the Nineteenth Century. Clarendon Press. p. 217,
1941
Through this book Singer gives the impression of the assertion prevalent foremost theological systems, presumption was the concentrate cruise spring the run off vague superstructure rally. Expressions of poise not toute seule describe the parameters of fountainhead in the Comprehensive Terming, but insurance except for countable to be partial to of passable symbolic study.
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Derek Gjertsen. The Classics of Science, New York: Lilian Barber Press, p. 150, 1984
Through his publication of The Classics of Science Derek reveals that the earth and the other planets including earth revolve around the sun, which is stationary. His heliocentric views brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church since was considered to be challenging the then pope Urban the eighth’s authority. He was then arrested, tried and convicted of heresy upon which he was put under house arrest and forced to recant his views.
Gerrard, John. “Galileo Galilei" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia. by. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
In this book Gerrard asserts that by adopting the heliocentric view that believed that the sun was stationary and formed the centre of the solar system, Galileo was thought to be highly and seriously challenging the scriptures, which form the basis of the church’s teachings. This scripture stated that the world was firmly established and immovable.
Gingerich, Owen. The eye of heaven: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler, New York: American
Gingerich affirsm that by making a superior telescope, Galileo was able to discover the moon as well as planet Jupiter. In addition, he discovered that planet earth was not the centre of the solar system, but it revolved round the sun together with other planets. This brought harsh criticism from the church and he was forbidden from teaching or arguing in favor of these theories.
Gwynne, Martin. Galileo versus The Geocentric Theory of the Universe. Riverview, 2010
