Galileo Essay -- essays research papers

Galileo "Whereas Galileo spent his last days under house arrest and was formally condemned by the Church for his scientific views, the elder Darwin was widely respected by the Anglican Church and was buried at the Westminster Abbey, an honor reserved for only the most illustrious personages of Great Britain. The reason for the two scientists' very different fortunes is simple: Galileo couldn't prove the Copernican hypothesis but Darwin was able to demonstrate the truth of his theory of evolution." In the world of Galileo proof was what was needed to succeed with a scientific hypothesis. In the world of Darwin proof was not needed for a scientific hypothesis to succeed. There were many differences in the worlds of these two great scientists that lead to the reaction to their respective scientific hypothesize. It was not their beliefs alone that led to their peer's views it was also the way each of them conducted themselves. Galileo worked his way to become a respected scientist by most of the intellectual community but he was also despised by many because of his background and because of his attitude towards others. Darwin was well respected by the intellectual community, but the difference was the way they conducted themselves when they were dealing with their hypothesizes. Galileo's Hypothesis Galileo was well known for standing up for what he believed in and pushing the things he wanted. He was constantly writing letters and engaging in debates over the issue of Copernicanism. Galileo's entire reason for doing this was to make the scientific and religious communities accept that Copernicanism was actually a fact and that there was enough proof to believe it. One example of the way Galileo strongly pushed his beliefs on others was the way he preached Copernicanism to the people of Rome in 1615. While he was in Rome trying to improve the church's opinion of him, Galileo was also debating the Aristotelians over this issue and beating them at their own game. Because of his natural talent for debate and because of his intelligence was able to outwit the Aristotelians in these debates. Galileo acted this way because he believed that he was in a position to make these kinds of statements without getting on the wrong side of the church. These actions show that Galileo was very insistent upon his ideas and upon what othe... ...did not have to be subject to the approval of the Catholic Church. Darwin and Galileo were very different men who are both remembered as great scientists of their times. While Galileo was condemned for his efforts Darwin was remembered as a hero. This was because of their different methods of presenting their ideas. Galileo was a fighter who would not back down from a fight until he was pitted against the Vatican and faced with excommunication. He tactics caused many people to despise him in his time, which lead to the ban of his book on Copernicanism. While Darwin preferred to work in his home and have others fight his battles for him. It was because of Darwin's passive promotion of his book that he made very few enemies when compared to Galileo. If Galileo was more like Darwin he may have been better off at the time of his death. While much of the Copernican theory is know as fact now there is still a debate over Darwinism. This is because it has yet to be proven definitively. Darwin was still honored for his contribution of this theory because he did it in a scientific manner and did not impose his opinion onto others.