Galileo Galilei, or the “Father of Modern Science,” as he is sometimes called, was the epitome of a Renaissance man. He was not only an expert in the fields of astronomy, physics, and philosophy, he was a talented author, lute player, and painter as well. He played a major role in the scientific revolution, making many discoveries including the phases of Venus, Jupiter’s moons, as well as observing sunspots. Additionally, he was an advocate of heliocentrism, or the view that the Sun is the center of the Universe, which was very controversial at the time and got him into a good deal of trouble. Without a doubt, Galileo was one of the most significant figures of the seventeenth century, and he left a legacy whose effects continue to be felt today.
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He was the first of six children born to Vincenzo Galilei, a lutist and musical composer, and Giulia Ammannati. He briefly considered joining the priesthood, however, his father wished for him to study medicine, so in 1583 Galileo enrolled at the University of Pisa. It was here that Galileo’s interest in mathematics was first piqued. He accidentally attended a lecture on Euclid, and from that point on, he was hooked. As Charles Schlichter of the American Scientist put it, “His dormant genius was aroused at once, and he threw all his energies into the new pursuits.” He then convinced his reluctant father to let him leave medicine to pursue mathematics. Unfortunately, Galileo was forced to leave the University of Pisa in 1585 because of financial reasons. He went to Florence, where his family lived at the time, but returned to Pisa in 1589, this time as a teacher. From there, he took a teaching position at the University of Padua, where he worked from 1592 to 1610. It was during Galileo's stint at Padua that he made some of his most important discoveries. In 1609, Galileo built his first telescope, based on a Dutch model. He first released his findings made with the telescope in 1610. In a book called the Starry Messenger, he revealed that the moon was not smooth and flat, but a sphere with craters and mountains. Another discovery he made with the telescope was that Venus has phases like the moon, …show more content…
In 1615, a furious priest by the name of Father Lorini sent a copy of Galileo’s letter to Castelli to the Roman Inquisition. In 1616, Galileo was called to Rome to defend his case. After listening to him, the Holy Office declared that his propositions-that the Sun is immovable and the Earth is possessed of a diurnal rotation-were both foolish and absurd. Additionally, Galileo was ordered by Pope Paul V not to “hold, teach, or defend” the Copernican theory regarding the Earth’s motion. Galileo obeyed for seven years, but this was not the end of his trouble with the Church. In 1623, Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, a personal friend of Galileo, was elected as Pope Urban VII. Urban allowed Galileo to continue his research on astronomy, and even encouraged him to publish it, so long as it did not advocate the Copernican theory. So, in 1632, Galileo published the famous Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World. Similar to the format of Plato’s republic, it contained three interlocutors discussing the Copernican theory: one arguing for it, one arguing against it, and one who was impartial. Though Galileo claimed the book was neutral and simply objective, it obviously was not. The opponent of the Copernican view was actually called “Simplicio,” and came across as a simpleton, while the advocate of the Copernican system was much stronger in his arguments.
He was the first of six children born to Vincenzo Galilei, a lutist and musical composer, and Giulia Ammannati. He briefly considered joining the priesthood, however, his father wished for him to study medicine, so in 1583 Galileo enrolled at the University of Pisa. It was here that Galileo’s interest in mathematics was first piqued. He accidentally attended a lecture on Euclid, and from that point on, he was hooked. As Charles Schlichter of the American Scientist put it, “His dormant genius was aroused at once, and he threw all his energies into the new pursuits.” He then convinced his reluctant father to let him leave medicine to pursue mathematics. Unfortunately, Galileo was forced to leave the University of Pisa in 1585 because of financial reasons. He went to Florence, where his family lived at the time, but returned to Pisa in 1589, this time as a teacher. From there, he took a teaching position at the University of Padua, where he worked from 1592 to 1610. It was during Galileo's stint at Padua that he made some of his most important discoveries. In 1609, Galileo built his first telescope, based on a Dutch model. He first released his findings made with the telescope in 1610. In a book called the Starry Messenger, he revealed that the moon was not smooth and flat, but a sphere with craters and mountains. Another discovery he made with the telescope was that Venus has phases like the moon, …show more content…
In 1615, a furious priest by the name of Father Lorini sent a copy of Galileo’s letter to Castelli to the Roman Inquisition. In 1616, Galileo was called to Rome to defend his case. After listening to him, the Holy Office declared that his propositions-that the Sun is immovable and the Earth is possessed of a diurnal rotation-were both foolish and absurd. Additionally, Galileo was ordered by Pope Paul V not to “hold, teach, or defend” the Copernican theory regarding the Earth’s motion. Galileo obeyed for seven years, but this was not the end of his trouble with the Church. In 1623, Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, a personal friend of Galileo, was elected as Pope Urban VII. Urban allowed Galileo to continue his research on astronomy, and even encouraged him to publish it, so long as it did not advocate the Copernican theory. So, in 1632, Galileo published the famous Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World. Similar to the format of Plato’s republic, it contained three interlocutors discussing the Copernican theory: one arguing for it, one arguing against it, and one who was impartial. Though Galileo claimed the book was neutral and simply objective, it obviously was not. The opponent of the Copernican view was actually called “Simplicio,” and came across as a simpleton, while the advocate of the Copernican system was much stronger in his arguments.