10/7/2013
Galileo and Geokineticism
Is the Earth moving?
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
PTOLEMY (2nd century): GEOCENTRISM
COPERNICUS (16th century): HELIOCENTRISM
 1543: On the Revolutions of the Heavenly
Spheres
GALILEO (17th century): GEOKINETICISM
 1610: The Starry Messenger
 1632: Dialogue on the Two Chief World
Systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican
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10/7/2013
http://youtu.be/VyQ8Tb85HrU
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Why does it matter whether we think the
Earth moves around the Sun or the Sun
moves around the Earth?
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How does each assumption influence our
understanding of our place in the universe?
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How does this debate illuminate our
worldview?
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1610: eccelesiastical opposition grows to The Starry Messenger and
Copernicanism in general;
1613: Galileo writes an essay responding to the theological critique
of geokineticism;
1614: Galileo accused of suspicion of heresy to the Roman
Inquisition;
1615: Galileo goes to Rome to clear his name;
1616: Geokineticism declared heretical; after publication of his
treatise on the tides, Galileo warned not to hold or express a
favourable opinion of the theory;
1632: Dialogue published; sales of Dialogue halted;
1633: Galileo tried by the Inquisition and found guilty of
“vehement suspicion of heresy”:
1633: under formal threat of torture, Galileo recants his former
support of geokineticism;
1642: Galileo dies after 10 years of house arrest.
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DISCIPLINARY HIERARCHY and AUTHORITY
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PATRONAGE: the support of the powerful
 Galileo was a mathematician, not a philosopher
 Loss of support due to controversy & shifting political landscape
(Tuscans vs. Florentines)
REFORMATION/COUNTER-REFORMATION
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Conflict between Catholics and Protestants over who has the
authority to interpret the Bible
30 Years War (1618-1648)
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Pope Urban VIII forced to make an example of Galileo to shore
up support for his own leadership
Galileo’s two offenses:
1.
Supporting (and disseminating) the geokinetic
thesis;
(concerning: the TRUTH about NATURE)
A SCIENTIFIC question.
2.
Using a method of expression and investigation that
suggests that it is possible to believe and defend a
thesis contrary to the Bible.
(concerning: the NATURE of TRUTH)*
An EPISTEMOLOGICAL question.
*Owen Gingerich
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On what basis do we make claims about the
world?
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To what kinds of knowledge should we have
access?
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How do we deal with “dangerous” knowledge?
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What is the role of authority in science and
religion?
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What is the role of faith in science and religion?
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10/7/2013
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What do you think of it?
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What inferences can you make about
 How we understand the worldview of the past?
 The way that knowledge is situated in its social
context?
 The definition of “freedom” esp. “Academic
freedom?”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRNqhi2k
a9k&feature=youtu.be
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