The Galileo Affair

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• The Galileo Affair

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• Galileo Galilei
• Seen as hapless victim of the Roman Catholic
  Inquisition

• One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church
• Viewed as an intransigent morass that
  monolithically was against all science and
  knowledge

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However

• The actual history of the Galileo Affair is much
  more nuanced and intriguing.
• It was an intersection of religion, science,
  politics, personality which resulted in one of
  the more historically embarrassing moments for
  the Church.

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• For 3 years (1589-1592) Galileo is a professor of
  mathematics at the University of Pisa

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• In 1604, now a professor in Padua, Italy, Galileo
  observes a supernova
• He then formulates lectures stating that the star
  is beyond the moon, and thus there are changes in
  the heavens.

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• In 1609/10 Galileo hears about a new invention-
  the telescope.
• He creates one of his own, and begins observing
  the solar system.

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• He is able to see the moons of Jupiter orbiting
  the planet
• He observes that Venus goes through phases like
  the moon. This went against the prevailing
  thought of the time

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Now the Fun Begins

• The prevailing thought at the time was that the
  earth was the center of the universe and it did
  not move.
• Belief based on ancient Greeks Ptolemy and
  Aristotle
• The interpretation of Scripture and Tradition
  within Christianity

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Copernicus

• The minority opinion at the time was that the sun
  was the center, and that it, not the earth, was
  immobile.
• This theory is credited to Copernicus, and was
  supported by Galileo.
• and it ended up being correct!!

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The Catholic Church Agrees With Galileosort of

• In 1611, at the request of Cardinal Bellarmine,
  the Collegio Romano certified Galileos
  discoveriesbut NOT his interpretations.

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Later in 1611

• At a dinner party, Galileo engages in a
  debateand he is supported by Cardinal Barbarini
• Cardinal Barbarini later becomes Pope Urban VIII

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Other Catholics Also Somewhat support Galileo

• Carmelite Friar Paolo Antonio Foscarini published
  Letter on the Pythagorean and Copernican Opinion
  of the Earth's Motion and Sun's Rest
• In this book, Foscarini argues that the
  Copernican theory is compatible with Scripture.

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Still Othersnot so much

• Not everyone in the Catholic Church is happy with
  Galileo.
• Dominican friar Tommaso Caccini went to Florence
  in December 1614 to preach against the
  heretical Copernican world viewhe was later
  forced to apologize
• Another Dominican, Niccolo Lorini filed a
  complaint with the Inquisition against
  Galileothe Inquisition did nothing at that time.

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• In 1625 a complaint against Galileo's
  publication The Assayer is lodged at the
  Inquisition.
• The complaint charges that the theory embraced in
  the book cannot be reconciled with the official
  church doctrine regarding the Eucharist.
• After an investigation by the Inquisition,
  Galileo is cleared.

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• In 1623, Cardinal Barbarini, a friend and patron
  of Galileo, is elected Pope.
• Pope Urban VIII bestowed a pension on both
  Galileo and his son.

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Permission Granted

• Galileo has several audiences with Pope Urban
  VIII, where the Pope tells him he can write about
  the Copernican theory, as long as he treats it as
  a mathematical hypothesis, not as fact.

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Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems

• In April 1630 Galileo finished his book, Dialogue
  Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.
• By June 1630 he had conditional permission to
  print his book from the Vatican

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Permission Denied

• In February 1632 Galileo had the book printed.
• By that summer Pope Urban VIII has banned it.
• By that fall the Inquisition, headed by the Pope
  himself, summoned Galileo.

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How Did it Get to That Point?

• Over the years, Galileo had made a lot of
  enemies.
• Unfortunately, he did not help himself with his
  supporters eitherapparently he wasnt the most
  pleasant person.
• It also didnt help implying the Pope (who was
  his benefactor) was an idiot in his book.

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So What Became of Galileo?

• No, he was not tortured or killed
• He was found guilty of violating an orderwhich
  he probably never knew about.
• The Church stops just short of outright calling
  him a heretic, rather he is judged to be
  vehemently suspected of heresy.
• A compromise is reached where he agrees to
  recant, and the Church sends him home for the
  remainder of his life.

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What Became of the Catholic Church?

• While many in the Catholic Church considered
  Galileos works heretical, that was never an
  official position.
• In 1741, Pope Benedict XIV granted an imprimatur
  seal of approval to the complete works of
  Galileo