Paul Feyerband - one of the twentieth century's most famous
philosophers of science – wrote: “the Church
in Galileo’s time adhered to reason much more than Galileo himself.”
St. Robert Bellarmine, a cardinal
and a friend of Galileo, wrote, “…if there were a true demonstration that the
sun is at the center of the world and the earth in the third heaven, and that
the sun does not circle the earth but the earth circles the sun, then one would
have to proceed with great care in explaining the scriptures that appear
contrary, and say rather that we do not understand them than that what is
demonstrated is false. But I will not believe that there is such a
demonstration, until it is shown to me.”
Because Galileo was insistent
about having proven the theory and that the prevalent Scriptural understanding was
wrong, the Church put him on trial. It
is important to be clear regarding the nature of that trial. The only persons
present besides Galileo were two officials and a secretary. The officials then submitted their report to
ten cardinals who decided the matter.
During his trial Galileo stayed at the Florentine embassy, and then moved
to an apartment in a Vatican palace.
Food, wine, and a servant were provided.
Galileo was convicted and sentenced to stay in his comfortable home in
Tuscany – effectively house arrest. It
was during this time of house arrest that he produced one of his best-known
works: Two New Sciences. Notably it
was on physics and not astronomy.
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