Galileo Galilei was one of the greatest astronomer and mathematician of the seventeenth century. His support of support of Copernican cosmology against the Church’s strong opposition and his development of a telescope and his unorthodox opinions as philosopher of science were the central concerns of his career. He struggled brutally for freedom from the higher authority because of unable to resist his appetite for scientific investigation. However, Galileo’s science and career did not get him any where farther in his life; he was forced to withdraw his theories before the inquisition, and was sentenced to indefinite imprisonment by the pope and eventually became blind.
Life of Galileo is visualized clearly in Bertolt Brecht’s the most fascinating novel Galileo. Galileo is one of Brecht’s truly brilliant characters, immensely alive complex human.Throughout his life Galileo dedicated himself to science and research and discovered many amazing things; one of them was a telescope. The observation of the sky, which Galileo carried out with his telescope led to the discovery of the satellites of Jupiter and to Galileo’s increased adherence the Copernican system.
He studied Saturn and observed the phases of Venus and the sunspots. In between his studies and discoveries Galileo began to encounter serious opposition of the motion of the earth. He discovered that it was earth that roll around the sun. “By that time, with any luck, they will be learning that the earth rolls round the sun, and that their mother, the captains, the scholars, the princes, and the Pope are rolling with it” (Galileo, pg49). Galileo’s theory about motion of earth was judged as erroneous by Cardinal Bellarmino because it went against the doctrine of the Church. He believed that the god was the one who created this world the best way he could and that is the way it should remain.
The god is the only one who has all the wisdom, knowledge, and power and he knows his work better than anybody does else does. “Does it not appear more probable even to you that the Creator knows more about his work that the Created?” (Galileo, pg79). Furthermore, the Cardinal also believed that once the thing is written in the Holy bible and approved by many scholars it can not be changed; because by changing anything or questioning anything about god’s creation would be like questioning the god. And this would completely destroy many people’ faith in god. “The interpretation of the Bible is a matter for the ministers of god. Tonight the Holy office has decided that the theory according to which the earth goes around the sun is foolish, absurd, and a heresy.
I am charged, Mr. Gallilei, with cautioning you to abandon these teaching”(Galileo, pg79). Galileo tried very hard to defend himself against theologian, one which he was not; however he did not succeed. He was summoned by the Holy office and the sentenced condemning him and compelled to seriously withdraw to his theory.The great astronomer, philosopher Galileo had no choice but to give up his theory.
Him and his science did not level up to the pope’s belief. During the Seventeenth century and I personally think still now the church and its authority has higher power than world of science. If one like Galileo has discovered something, he has to be very careful that his discovery is not offending any part of the bible. Galileo definitely not a coward; he did go to Rome and tried his best to convince his point of view to the Cardinals. However, the time period of his discovery was ruled by the heiarchy of the church.
Galileo had no choice but to take back his theories; otherwise he probably would have been sentenced to death. Staying alive under house arrest Galileo wrote a book and continued his research and lived his rest of life with his daughter Virginia holding the truth inside that later on became the fact.
