Galileo Galilei, a simple man with faith in truth

By Amal Hewavissenti

Galileo Galilei was really a great man. Assuredly, his status as a leading figure in scientific discoveries fades into insignificance against his own humanity proved in the real test of his mettle in the face of the influential church.

Galileo was born in 1564, the year in which the celebrated artist Michael Angelo died and William Shakespeare was born. Thus, Galileo Galilei and William Shakespeare were contemporaries each having gained mastery over science (astronomy in particular) and literature.

Nobody can deny his great stature as one of the world's best scientists and he always coveted the welfare of the people.

Galileo Galilei

Even though he remained adamant in his views of science and universe and opposed the suppression by state and the church, he earnestly believed in the supremacy and the validity of scientific truth.

When Galileo became aware of the accidental discovery of telescope by Netherlands's scientists, he instantly produced a smaller one for his astronomical explorations. His own telescope made him capable of forming epoch making theories on the solar system.

When the astronomer Copernicus had given expression to his ideas about the “Sun-centered universe” 20 years prior to Galileo's birth, his book was banned by the church.

Galileo's views on the astronomical phenomena and the works he published landed him in serious trouble with the state and the church. He was even forced to acknowledge that he totally posed the theories put forward by Copernicus in order to avoid torture or even execution.

Declarations

But, in spite of his declarations of this nature in public, he never altered his real belief. It was not until 1992 that the church finally acknowledged its misjudgment in condemning Galileo for his theories about the solar system.

Galileo was much concerned about how he could bring about public welfare by his theories and discoveries and he had the strength to sacrifice his life for the welfare of the people.

The scientist had a surprising penchant for painting and he was a bit of a painter sometimes. His friend Ludowiko, an Halian painter, painted some scenes in the St. Maria Church in Rome under Galileo's instructions. Apart from this, he was immensely taken up with writing poetry and music - a rare inspiration from his father who too was a musician and a dramatist. Bertolt Brecht composed a drama on Galileo's life (Life of Galileo) which was successfully staged after five years of the publication of the book (in 1943). The drama is considered to reflect Galileo's commitment to the up-gradation of scientific trends of the time. The drama illustrates how the church, provoked by the ideas by Galileo, warned him against any progress in ‘revolutionary ideas’ on the nature of universe.

On his strong resistance to the warnings, the authorities disrupted his daughter's marriage and he was subsequently held in detention without a trial. Once, Galileo presented his student Andry with one of his books which contained all his teachings and details of his discoveries.

He instructed Andry to disseminate the knowledge throughout the world while he remained in detention. Andry said in surprise “You're a hero”. But Galileo, in a state of grave composure replied “This is no act of heroism. I ask you to do this because it has to be done”.

As he was plunged in a mire of economic problems, he could downright have agreed to the views held by the authorities and church and have easily become a wealthy man. His conscience compelled him to stick to the truth and he made little money by making horoscopes, producing gadgets for military officials (the military compass for example) and giving tuition.

Even though he was in continual conflict with the church on grounds of scientific theories, he was an ardent Christian and had immense faith in God. The problem was that his observations on universe (movement of earth and position of sun) dealt a humiliating rebuff to Aristotle's views but bore out Copernicus’ views.

Observations

Galileo wrote articles concerning the religious factors in matters of science solely for the benefit of common people but he was rewarded with severe punishment. Using his observations through the telescope, he wrote a booklet” Starry Messenger” which conflicted with the church on the question of the movement of earth. With the publication of the “Theory of Tides” in 1610, and the observations of the planet Jupiter, Galileo was instantly called before a jury composed of priests and professors.

In 1616, the Jury concluded that Galileo's inventions, discoveries and views were absolute absurdities. Yet, the new Pope (Arbon the viii) appointed in 1623 had established a friendship with Galileo which could have earned big funds for him especially for the scientific research. But Galileo did not exploit this opportunity to make money.

In 1632, Galileo published a book titled The dialogue concerning two world systems which is considered to be the most appealing book ever published on astronomy.

The book is a discussion between two philosophers and a priest on the movement of planets around the sun, the universe and the movement of earth round the sun.

Pope Arban viii was compelled to ban the book although his friendship with Galileo became increasingly stronger. The Pope could no longer speak in justification of his loveable friend because of the opposition from the church. A special commission appointed accordingly, convicted Galileo and condemned him to life imprisonment. He had ample opportunity to betray his ideology and pledge allegiance to the state authorities and the church in order to regain a better life.

Yet he did not betray his conscience for the sake of material gain and stuck to truth to the bitter end of life. He was a man of truth even if he had his own weaknesses in the luxury city of Venice.