Reaction Paper 3- Scientific Revolution
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Florida SouthWestern State College, Lee *
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1030
Subject
History
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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4
Uploaded by melanie8497
Melanie Rodriguez
Dr. Chris Berg
WOH 1023
2 August 2023
Scientific Revolution
The scientific theories of the Ancient Greeks and Romans have remained unaffected by theories that have opposed them, though some have been proven wrong with the use of new scientific and mathematical tools. The use of these tools has tested the accuracy of these age-old theories to ensure if they are valid or not. During the Renaissance, it was discussed whether the sun revolved around the other planets including Earth, or contrariwise. Some aspects of religion were also incorporated into scientific research during the 16th and 17th centuries to be more accepted into society. The Christian Bible also played a key role in scientific research, as it was impermissible for a scientist to seek evidence that went against the Bible’s principles. Two people that strived to gain approval for their theories despite the conflicts between science and religion were Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus. Both Copernicus and Galileo amplified their ways of thinking by searching for a more definitive truth to understanding the universe. Originally, a mathematician and astronomer named Claudius Ptolemy believed that the Earth did not move and remained in the center of the universe, while the other planets and stars rotated around the Earth. Ptolemy’s theory was widely accepted by the Christian community as they believed the Earth is God’s number one creation, making the Earth the center of everything. Ptolemy’s theory was plausible to the Christian community because when they looked up at the sky, it appeared to them as if the sun, moon, and stars moved while the Earth remained still. Both
Copernicus and Galileo challenged the geocentric model and introduced their heliocentric system
which caused outrage and controversy between them and the Christian community.
The Christian’s initially opposed Galileo’s heliocentric system when he first introduced the idea, which led him to author a book titled, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany
, in the year 1615. In his book, Galileo explains that the Bible is advantageous when it comes to topics such as morality and should not be used for seeking knowledge or understanding
of physical things or scientific discoveries. In his book, Galileo states, “For that reason it appears
that nothing physical which sense-experience sets before our eyes, or which necessary demonstrations prove to us, ought to be called in question (much less condemned) upon the testimony of biblical passages which may have some different meaning beneath their words” (
Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, 4
). Galileo made it known that he believed religion could not be directly used to prove something physical without scientific facts. Religion and science are two different concepts that should not be closely compared to one another due to their many dissimilarities. With science being a subject solely based on facts, it led Galileo to heavily support his point that the Christian Bible should not be utilized as a source to provide proper evidence on physical things.
Copernicus authored his own book to gain acceptance for his theories, titled On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres
. In his book, Copernicus expounds on his discoveries about how the Sun is the center of the universe and that all the planets and stars revolve around the sun,
rather than the Earth being the center of the universe such as the Christian community believed. Copernicus’s book was published in 1543 during the Scientific Revolution, which was a period when people began questioning God’s authority and the biblical scriptures. In his book, Copernicus states, “...if anyone denies that this study is necessary for a man who is going to take
up any of the highest branches of learning, then such a person is thinking foolishly; and (Plato) thinks that it is impossible for anyone to become godlike or be called so who has no necessary knowledge of the sun, moon, and other stars” (
On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres
). Copernicus made similar points to those of Galileo, making sure to point out that the Bible should not be used to deny scientific theories as they have no direct relation to one another.
Copernicus and Galileo each made a grand effort to bypass religious boundaries and search for new knowledge to better understand our universe and how it works. Both Galileo and Copernicus were able to create compelling arguments to support their theories and what they believed was true while also integrating their newfound scientific knowledge of the universe with wisdom gained from the ancient Greeks and Romans, along with the Christian Bible. In each of their books, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany (1615) and On the Revelations of the Heavenly Spheres
, the pair clarify that these new scientific discoveries do not contradict religion and can both work together, cordially. Religion and science can coexist and assist each other when figuring out ways to understand the world.
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Works Cited
Galilei, Galileo. “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany.” Stanford University
, Aug. 1997, web.stanford.edu/~jsabol/certainty/readings/Galileo-LetterDuchessChristina.pdf.
Copernicus, Nicolaus. “On The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.” Central Connecticut State University
, bertie.ccsu.edu/naturesci/Cosmology/Copernicus.html.