GALILEO FOR COPERNICANISM AND FOR THE CHURCH ANNIBALE FANTOLI. Translation by George V. Coyne, S.J. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged

Transcription

1 ANNIBALE FANTOLI GALILEO FOR COPERNICANISM AND FOR THE CHURCH Whether in reaching such a decision it is advisable to consider, ponder, and examine what he [Copernicus] writes is something that I have done my best to show in an essay of mine. I hope the blessed God has granted me this, for I have no other aim but the honor of the Holy Church and do not direct my small labors to any other goal. (Galileo to Dini, 23 March 1615) Translation by George V. Coyne, S.J. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged STUDI GALILEIANI VOL. 6

2 CONTENTS PRESENTATION XI PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION XV PREFACE TO THE THIRD ENGLISH EDITION XVIII EDITORIAL NOTE XX INTRODUCTION: FROM THE TRADITIONAL WORLDVIEW TO THE THEORY OF COPERNICUS 1. From Aristotelian Cosmology to the System of Ptolemy 1 2. The Encounter with Christianity and the Medieval Synthesis The "Copernican Revolution" and the Reaction of the Theologians The Reaction of the Astronomers. The System of Tycho Brahe The World of Copernicus Expanded to the Infinite. Giordano Bruno 34

3 VI CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: GALILEO ENTERS ON STAGE. FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS YEARS IN PADUA 1. Family Milieu and Early Education "Conversion" to Euclid and Archimedes Mathematics Teacher at Pisa. The Sources of his Teaching The Pisan De Motu and Galileo's First Orientation Towards Copernicus The Beginning of his Teaching Career at Padua The First Idea of a Possible "Proof" of Copernicanism The Nova of 1604 and a New Attempt at a "Proof" of Copernicanism Private Teaching and Activities in Technical Matters Friends and Family Affairs 74 CHAPTER 2: THE TELESCOPIC DISCOVERIES. THE BEGINNING AND GROWTH OF THE CONTROVERSIES 1. The Making of the Telescope and the First Astronomical Discoveries The Sidereus Nuncius and the Plan to Return to Florence 84

4 CONTENTS VII 3. The Reactions to the Sidereus Nuncius and the Return to Florence The Beginning of the Controversies about Scripture. Galileo's Trip to Rome The Dispute about Floating Bodies. The "League" against Galileo is Born The Sunspots and the Beginning of the Controversy with Scheiner 113 CHAPTER 3: EPILOGUE TO THE SCRIPTURAL CONTROVERSY. THE DE REVOLUTIONIBUS IS LISTED ON THE INDEX 1. The Theologians Begin to Intervene in the Copernican Controversy The Letter to Castelli. The Reaction of the Dominicans in Florence Foscarini and Bellarmine on the Copernican Question Galileo's Response. The Letter to Christina of Lorraine The Dominican, Caccini, Accuses Galileo before the Holy Office Galileo Goes to Rome to Defend Copernicanism The Intervention of the Holy Office. The De Revolutionibus is Placed on the Index Rumors of an Abjuration by Galileo. Bellarmine's Testimony for Galileo. Some Final Remarks 187

5 VIII CONTENTS CHAPTER 4: THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT COMETS AND THE ASSAYER. MAFFEO BARBERINI IS ELECTED POPE 1. The Three Comets of 1618 and the Disputatio Astronomica of Grassi The Response of Galileo. The Discourse on the Comets Grassi's Response. The Libra Astronomica The Assayer is Born. Maffeo Barberini is Elected Pope A New Response of Grassi. The Ratio Ponderum Librae et Simbellae 224 CHAPTER 5: THE RESUMPTION OF THE COPERNICAN PROGRAM. THE DIALOGUE IS PUBLISHED 1. A New Trip of Galileo to Rome and Conversations with Urban VIII The Letter to Ingoli The Assayer denounced by a "Pious Person" to the Holy Office A Return to the Discourse on the Ebb and Flow of the Sea The Rosa Ursina of Scheiner and the Completion of the Dialogue 238

6 CONTENTS IX 6. Galileo in Rome. The Events Surrounding the Permission to Print the Dialogue The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems 252 CHAPTER 6: THE STORM BREAKS LOOSE. THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF GALILEO 1. The Dialogue Arrives in Rome. The Reactions against it Begin Urban VIII Becomes Aware of the Contents of the Dialogue. The First Dispositions are Taken against the Book The Charges against the Dialogue are Specified The Discovery of the Injunction of Segizzi to Galileo and the Answer of the Commission Appointed to Examine the Dialogue Galileo is Summoned to Rome by the Holy Office Beginning of the Trial and Galileo's Defense The Extra-Judicial Attempt by the Commissary Maculano The Condemnation and Abjuration of Galileo Some final Considerations on the Condemnation of Galileo 334

7 X CONTENTS CHAPTER 7: THE "GALILEO AFFAIR" FROM THE TRIAL'S END UNTIL TODAY 1. Galileo Returns to Florence. The Two New Sciences are Published in Holland Galileo's Last Years and his Death. The Plan for a Mausoleum in his Honor is Put Aside The Mausoleum is Finally Built. The Holy Office Allows a Conditional Reprinting of the Dialogue The Prohibition of Books on Copernicanism is omitted from the New Edition of the Index of Forbidden Books. The Settele Case The Galilean Dispute in the XIX Century and the "Opening" of the Vatican Archives to Scholars The Galileo of Pio Paschini and Vatican Council II John Paul II and the Frank Recognition of the Errors of the Past 366 NOTES 375 BIBLIOGRAPHY 577 INDEX OF NAMES 603