The strange story of the grave of Copernicus

[Admin]

Nicholas Copernicus was the astronomer who, five centuries ago, explained that Earth revolves around the Sun, rather than vice versa.

The strange story of the grave of Copernicus : Read more

 

[Helio]

His 12 years of college paid off.

Although he was concerned that there would be those in the church who would oppose his book on scriptural arguments, he didn’t seem that intimidated. He made it clear in his book that heliocentrism was a physical reality, not just a better math model of the planets. [The final person in charge of completing the publication (Osiander) did add an intro stating the work was hypothetical, to help avoid conflict, apparently.]

For about seven decades, de Revolutionibus was never a big problem with the church. Galileo was key to causing the ruckus as he fought to introduce what is now called modern science. Had he realized just how much his ending pages to his Discourse book were mocking his friend the Pope, Galileo likely would have avoided the harsh treatment he later received from him.

 

[Questioner]

His 12 years of college paid off.

Although he was concerned that there would be those in the church who would oppose his book on scriptural arguments, he didn’t seem that intimidated. He made it clear in his book that heliocentrism was a physical reality, not just a better math model of the planets. [The final person in charge of completing the publication (Osiander) did add an intro stating the work was hypothetical, to help avoid conflict, apparently.]

For about seven decades, de Revolutionibus was never a big problem with the church. Galileo was key to causing the ruckus as he fought to introduce what is now called modern science. Had he realized just how much his ending pages to his Discourse book were mocking his friend the Pope, Galileo likely would have avoided the harsh treatment he later received from him.

The question is,
without the disparaging condescending attitude ('swagger') would Galileo's ideas and his publication's drama have first captured the attention and then the imagination of a wider audience?
People are terribly cliqueish, more so in self perceived elites. Everyone wants to be 'in the know', like gossip. "Come share some condescension."

Personality and ego help drive the leading edge of what is believed,
even sometimes in the direction of error.
If something doesn't jiucily excite people they tend to forget it.

Galileo changed the literate public's frame of reference (for better or worse).

Cool empiricism flies under the radar.

 

[HopDavid]

"Copernicus feared how his work would be received by the church and fellow scholars."
Space.com is spreading misinformation.

Copernicus shared his ideas with bishops, arch bishops and the pope for decades before he published his book. They encouraged him to publish.

It is true that he was anxious he would be criticized by other scholars.

 

[Helio]

The question is,
without the disparaging condescending attitude ('swagger') would Galileo's ideas and his publication's drama have first captured the attention and then the imagination of a wider audience?

Yes, a person’s strength is often their weakness. Simply adding “too much“ to one’s strength may reveal the weakness. Galileo’s gifted intellect and argumentative skills made him both strong friends and fervent enemies.

 

[Helio]

"Copernicus feared how his work would be received by the church and fellow scholars."
Space.com is spreading misinformation.

Copernicus shared his ideas with bishops, arch bishops and the pope for decades before he published his book. They encouraged him to publish.

It is true that he was anxious he would be criticized by other scholars.

He certainly was encouraged by some (e.g. cardinal of Cusa) but the Reformation heightened scriptural sensitivities. He likely had more regional support than what we would see from Rome. [Interestigly, it was two Lutherans that oversaw his book’s publication.] The council of Trent’s influence of favoring Aristotle was huge. The top academic positions ( philosophers) were all supporters of Aristotle‘s works. The 17th century’s far greater teleological environment (all things with purpose) also supported a geocentric model.

Galileo was in a circumstance that required special, powerful arguments to give science the credibility it deserved. It may have been the harsh philosophical environment that helped him appreciate the merits to what is now called modern science, which is objective-based and mathematical.

He did lack the view that theories must be falsifiable and are not proveable (Popper). He felt his Dialogue arguments of the tides caused by the combination of the Earth’s rotation and orbit about the Sun proved Cop’s model, hence being wrong on the science made his enemies even more emboldened.