To begin, many people did not support the new scientific discoveries because it would contradict religious doctrine. John Calvin, a French Protestant theologian, believed that science was only useful if it was used to glorify God (Doc 2). For many people, God was held higher than science and they took offense at the radical idea of the opposite, that science was higher than God. In fact, Giovanni Ciampoli, an Italian monk, wrote to Galileo telling him that he understood his ideas but that he should not share them publicly because he is not a clergyman, therefore people would not listen to him (Doc 3). Being a monk himself, Ciampoli's statement is very credibly since he is a prominent figure in religious work and he is very closely acquainted …show more content…
with other very religious people (POV).
As a prominent figure in religious circles of the time, Ciampoli's statement was effective in speaking for the opinions of other religious people. With revolution in scientific thought and discovery just starting to emerge, many people might have agreed with the positions of scientists but were still most faithful to God. Nicolas Copernicus, in his letter to Pope Paul III, said he dedicated his studies to his holiness because he is the most eminent virtue (Doc 1). Copernicus being both a priest, and an astronomer, would then find importance in both religion and science, yet see religion as the most important figure with which to ally his thinking (POV). Since Copernicus's letter was written with the Pope, the most important holy figure in the state, as recipient, his writing was most likely selected in pandering to the Pope's views. Aside from the barring of objectiveness, he still demonstrated that his devotion to his faith outweighed his devotion to science, which demonstrated the heart of most religious arguments in opposition to spread science and its newfound …show more content…
discoveries. In continuation of incentivizing scientific discovery, support from political leaders aided the work of scientists, even though politicians were doing it for their own benefit. Visiting the French Royal Academy, Louis XIV displays support for science (Doc 10). Being the monarch of the French State, he had to show he was still in power and used support of science as a way to do so (POV). This was the case for Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's finance minister, as well. He believed that art and science should flourish, but believed this solely for the respect and advancement of his country (Doc 11). His personal reputation and high ranking position attributed to his decision to support scientific work (POV). Thomas Hobbes, the author of Leviathan, claimed that people supported geometry because it didn't jeopardize their political position, but when scientific discoveries threatened religious beliefs, everyone criticized it (Doc 7). The previously stated people, whether supporting science for personal advancement, political advancement, or just in the belief of its legitimacy helped advance the work of scientists with their support. Lastly, social norms prevented people from supporting science.
In his letter to Galileo, Giovanni Ciampoli said people would think he was crazy if he went public with his discoveries (Doc 3). This norm of God and religion being the central figure in a persons life prevented science from breaking through into the community. The religious and uneducated people had no reason to believe or listen to ideas that blatantly contradict their faith, therefore they abstained. Holden Oldenbury also advocated that if education spread without partisan reservations, philosophy would excel, which would ultimately better the world (Doc 6). Since many people weren't educated at this time, it hindered the ability of many thinkers to preach new, controversial ideas to people who didn't have any idea what was going on. Only those who could afford education were educated and this was the social norm. The rich, however, were below monarchs and religious figures according to the social hierarchy. There was a very narrow scope of people who were involved in science, which were wealthy white men. This is what made Margaret Cavendish, an English natural philosopher, angry because she would embrace science but because she was a woman who expresses interest in a male's field of occupation, she would be kicked out (Doc 9). Divisions based on class and gender greatly hindered the capacity for support of scientists work. A prime example of this is Margaret Cavendish, being a female who strongly
expressed interest in the field of science and then denied because of her gender, it is logical that she would have a bitter outlook on the narrow minded nature of society (POV). Women, religious figures, and the poor may have wanted to support science, but doing so would cripplingly ravage the social norms that were present at this time. If the accepted standards of public belief had not been as strict, support for science would have burgeoned. Finally, the work of scientists was both helped and hindered by social, political, and religious forces. Religion remained central in many peoples lives causing conflicts about the morality of science, and prohibiting the acceptance of scientific practices. Science was supported by important people for political advance, while the social norms hindered scientific advancement by preventing most people from embracing science.
The Bible was one of the most important pieces of text during Galileo’s lifetime. If you went against what the Bible stated then you were considered to be a heretic. The Bible indicated that the earth was in the center of the universe and the sun and the other planets revolve around it. a theory known as the geocentric model. Many scientists argued against this theory by stating that actually the sun was in the center of the universe and the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun, this theory was known as the heliocentric model. Nicolas Copernicus was one of the first out of many scientists who publically shared this theory. Later Giordano Bruno also supported this theory and because of this the Church ordered him to be burned
During the Scientific Revolution, the struggle between faith and reason was exhibited through Galileo and his discoveries. The Catholic Church during the time period of the Scientific Revolution did not approve of any outside scientists who came up with new theories and observations. The Church believed that all information about how the world worked was in the bible and that was the only right source. In an excerpt from “What is Scientific Authority?” written by Galileo in 1615, it states, “Showing a greater fondness for their [Catholic Church’s] own opinions than for truth, they sought to deny & disprove the new things which, if they had cared to look for themselves, their own senses would have demonstrated to them…” Galileo Galilei himself knew that the Church was not willing to approve of new ideas from other scientists, but only from the teachings in the Bible. Later on in the excerpt, Galileo writes, “They [Catholic Church] hurled various charges &…made the grave mistake of sprinkling these with passages taken from places in the Bible which they had failed to understand properl...
The Scientific Revolution, during the 16th and 18th centuries, was a time of conflict. It was not a hand-to-hand martial conflict. It was a conflict of advancement, similar to the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union. However, it was between the thinkers of the Scientific Revolution, such as Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei, and the Roman Catholic Church. At the time, the Catholic Church was the most powerful religious body in Europe. It controlled everything from education to faith to finances. Thinkers like Galileo took the risk and went against the church. This is shown through the documents below. Those documents tell the story of Galileo and how he was forced to revoke his support of heliocentrism by the church. The documents below also show the struggle between faith and reason that existed during this era of advancement by hindering the flourishment of the sciences by stating that it did not agree with the Bible and naming these early scientists as heretics.
The 17th and 18th centuries saw the embryonic stage of women’s quest for intellectual and social parity with men. The evolution of women’s fight for equal opportunities was bogged down by a long history of stereotyping and condescension. Women were weaker physically, bore children and nurtured them. The economics and culture of Europe at this time was strongly influenced by religion and resulted in prejudice against women. The dominating religions of Europe in the 1600’s and 1700’s (Catholicism and Protestantism), citing the bible, reinforced women’s roles as mother’s, wives, and homemakers. Women were considered the weaker sex both physically and mentally. Men and most women assumed that because women gave birth and produced milk for their infants, God intended that their place was in the home. Men’s egos, as well, did not allow for women to compete with them. Males thought their place was to rule, fight wars, provide income, teach and be the head of his family. Women were not accepted in academics, politics, church leadership, business, or the military. Despite these prejudices, women saw an opportunity in the sciences. As a discipline based on observations and deductive reasoning it did not necessarily require a comprehensive academic background. Since most women were deprived of the more advanced education that men received, it was the perfect field for them to begin their pursuit of equality. As a result, a growing number of women actively participated in scientific research in chemistry, astronomy, biology, botany, medicine, and entomology.
In 1695 Galileo wrote a Letter to The Grand Duchess Christina. This letter discussed the relationship between the traditional biblical beliefs of the time (the basis on which their society was built), scientific discoveries, and their correlation with one another. The purpose of the letter was to inform that the scientific discoveries being made were not hearsay or contradictory to the Bible, rather they were natural laws, which could coincide with Scriptural based beliefs, not oppose them. In the Letter to The Grand Duchess Christina, Galileo implies that science is the means by which G-d meant for humanity to understand scriptural truths. This belief can be applied to the present day by finding equilibrium, and in turn allowing for a balanced life.
The main argument which Galileo’s opponents used against his theory was that in many places in the Bible it is mentioned that the Earth stands still and that the Sun revolves around it. Galileo himself was a devout Christian and did not mean to question God’s power or the Holy Writ with his work. As a result, to support his claim, he developed three logical arguments in his letter, which he backed with the opinions of leading Christian authorities, in order to prove that science can reinforce religion rather than discredit it.
The history of opposition between science and religion has been steady for about half of a century. As early as the 1500's, science and religion have been antagonistic forces working against each other. Science was originally founded by Christians to prove that humans lived in a orderly universe (Helweg, 1997). This would help to prove that the universe was created by a orderly God who could be known. Once this was done, science was considered by the church to be useless. When people began to further investigate the realm of science, the church considered them to be heretics; working for the devil. According to Easterbrook (1...
The condemnation of Galileo by the Catholic Church is a prime example of the vast dispute between religion and science. It is widely believed that his support of Copernicanism, the theory that the earth rotates on its own axis, led to his condemnation by the Catholic Church. However, modern historians disagree with this belief and as a matter of fact they do not believe that indeed there is warfare between religion and science. Under the content of condemnation of Galileo are subjects such as Copernicanism, Eucharist, Popes Paul 5 and atomism.
“Galileo has been depicted variously as a cynical opportunist, patient genius or lucky engineer, and dies a coward or a modern Socrates.” I agree that he is a patient genius, and lucky engineer, but I do not agree that he is a cynical opportunist, coward or a modern Socrates.
To speak out against the Church in this time was strictly taboo. If one spoke against the Church, it was considered heresy, which is exactly what happened to Galileo. Galileo invented the telescope and began studying the heavens above and noticed changes within the stars and planets. He observed that the "stars" that surrounded Jupiter moved. He came to the conclusion through rational thinking that Copernicus' heliocentric theory was correct.
The Catholic Church was not justified in attempt to stifle Galileo’s scientific views. The Catholic church should have not imprisoned Galileo because of his findings. It was and still is morally wrong to blame an individual because they have corrected history. The Catholic Church believed that their word and beliefs were right, even when they weren’t scientifically correct. Enforcing incorrect views on individuals just to benefit your religion is morally and socially wrong. The political aspect falls in place when the Catholic Church uses their authority to imprison Galileo.
The modern science view as well as the Scientific Revolution can be argued that it began with Copernicus’ heliocentric theory; his staunch questioning of the prior geocentric worldview led to the proposal of a new idea that the Earth is not in fact the center of the solar system, but simply revolving around the Sun. Although this is accepted as common sense today, the period in which Copernicus proposed this idea was ground-breaking, controversial, and frankly, world-changing. The Church had an immense amount of power, and was a force to be reckoned with; in the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, new scientific proposals and ideas were discouraged in many cases by the Church. A quote from Galileo’s Children does an excellent job summing up the conflict: “The struggle of Galileo against Church dogma concerning the nature of the cosmos epitomized the great, inevitable and continuing clash between religion and reason.” If evidence goes against scripture, the scientist is considered a heretic and is, like in Galileo’s case, forbidden to discuss the ideas any further. Galileo Galilei, who proposed solid evidence and theory supporting the heliocentric model, was forced to go back on his beliefs in front of several high officials, and distance himself from the Copernican model. This, luckily, allowed him to not be killed as a heretic, which was the next level of punishment for the crimes he was charged with, had he not went back on his beliefs. Incredible support was given through the young developing academies with a sense of community for scientists and academics; “Renaissance science academies represent a late manifestation of the humanist academy movement.” Since the Church was grounded traditionally evidence that went agains...
The relationship between religion and science never used to be an issue for early philosophers as scientific explanation would work around the existence of a deity (generally). However in recent times we’ve seen various conflicts arising due to disagreements and even cases of religion holding back scientific progress. For example, in 1610, the Catholic Church banned Galileo’s works (specifically his studies on the Heliocentric model) and branded him as a heretic. Unfortunately today we still see the the long term effects of this decision as 1 in 5 Americans still believe that the Sun orbits the Earth (Study by Jon D. Miller of Northwestern University in 2005). Another fine example of dissension would be Charles Darwin and his work on The Origin Of Species (published 24 November 1859). He was hesitant to publish his work for decades as he feared religious persecution and knew that his theory would controversial as it essentially disproved the theory of Intelligent Design. Natural Selection is now accepted amongst the Catholic Church as God can still play the role as the omnipotent designer who set off the long process. As wonderful as this is we still find c...
Over the course of the years, society has been reformed by new ideas of science. We learn more and more about global warming, outer space, and technology. However, this pattern of gaining knowledge did not pick up significantly until the Scientific Revolution. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the Scientific Revolution started, which concerned the fields of astronomy, mechanics, and medicine. These new scientists used math and observations strongly contradicting religious thought at the time, which was dependent on the Aristotelian-Ptolemy theory. However, astronomers like Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton accepted the heliocentric theory. Astronomical findings of the Scientific Revolution disproved the fact that humans were the center of everything, ultimately causing people to question theology’s role in science and sparking the idea that people were capable of reasoning for themselves.
Faith in Natural Sciences has been hindering human development for centuries due to the faith in religion of some early religious bodies. One of the best examples is the belief that the Universe was geocentric, or that the Earth was the center of the universe. The church, due its faith both in religion which resulted in its faith in natural sciences confirmed the Earth’s position due to statements in the bible. Meanwhile Galileo Galilei found out that the Earth was not geocentric and in fact heliocentric, not through faith but through scientific methods. The Catholic Church’...