Galileo’s Heliocentric Model, Annotated Bibliography Example

Berger, Daniel. The Failure of Theory: Models of the Solar System. Science & Technology column for National Forum, 2001, 81(1), 6.

The author explains in plain terms how the theories about the Earth developed in ancient times, on which theories they were based and how the evidence was found. He speculates on the ways the Ptolemaic model was evident for the observers of the scientific evidence because of its naked-eye obviousness. The progress in the movement towards a heliocentric model was marked by the agitated debate with the scientist Tycho Brache that resulted in the generation of the Tychonic model, an average between the Aristotelian and the Copernican model. Galileo’s contribution to the development of the heliocentric model as well as the activities of Tycho’s pupil Kepler are also discussed as pertaining to the establishment of the Copernican model’s validity.

Doumit, E. Peter. A Unification of Science and Religion. Pittsburgh: Dorrance Publishing, 2010.

The chapter dedicated to Galileo’s activity throws light on an alternative variant of the historical struggle of Galileo with the Inquisition and shows that there was no aggression and violence conducted regarding the scientist. Galileo was not tried, but asked to recant some of his admonitions and was forbidden to write on the heliocentric issues. His punishment was life under home arrest that lasted for about 20 years until his death. The religious nature of Galileo is also discussed as a proof of no serious contradiction existing between him personally, and the Catholic Church. The contribution of Galileo as a basis for further astrological research is given a proper account of.

Galilei, Galileo, and Stillman Drake. Dialogue concerning the two chief world systems, Ptolemaic & Copernican. (2^nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1967.

The work is the primary source of the argumentation regarding the Earth’s movement in the Universe, namely its rotation around the Sun. The book is written in the form of scientific debates of three main characters: Salviato (the follower of the Copernican model of the world, an intelligent and wise philosopher), Simplicio (a follower of the Ptolemy model of the world, depicted as a narrow-minded, simplistic philosopher), and an amateur Sagredo who is mainly neutral to both viewpoints but inquisitive about the nature of both arguments. The discussions last for four days, in each of which Galileo presents his strategies for argumentation for the Copernican model. The first day is marked by the objections to traditional Ptolemaic model by such examples as the experiment on the ship; the second day is distinguished by the scientific proofs like the motion of Venus, sunspot movement etc. as the indispensible evidence of the Earth’s movement. The argumentation on the third day includes refusal from the theory of Heavens constructed by the Catholic Church on the basis of the Tychonic system, and the favorite theory of tides as a proof of the Earth’s movement (though not correct) finishes the discussion.

Koupelis, Theo. In the Quest of the Universe. (6^th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010.

Chapter 3 is dedicated to the contribution of Galileo into the human understanding of the solar system both by observations and theory. By observing Jupiter’s moons, sunspots, mountains on the Moon, and Venus phases the researcher made his conclusions on the Earth’s movement. The proper account of Galileo’s contemporary thoughts is given, including the reasons for rejecting the Copernican model of the world because of its inconsistency with the theory of Heavens. Galileo’s arrest and prosecution by the church in the old age are also discussed in direct relation to his theory.

Kung, Hans. The beginning of all things: science and religion. Munich: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007.

The author recollects the new model of the world created by Copernicus due to his scientific observations and calculations as a revolutionary introduction in the 15^th century society, religion and culture. He refers to the Copernican discovery as an unrivaled novelty at first in physics, but then in religious and social perception of the whole world. Hence, the invented model that was improved by Kepler turned out a real threat for the Catholic canons as soon as Galileo discovered substantial proofs for its correctness with his telescopic observations. Therefore, the author discusses the fight of church against science as it was performed in the middle Ages to preserve the precision of Biblical canons. The prosecution of Galileo and his condemnation by Inquisition are described as the origination of hostile relationships between science and religion, marking the historical conflict between these two domains of knowledge and the emigration of the scientific activists from the Catholic Church territories. However, the continuation of the Galileo’s case discussion is dedicated to the consequent victory of science over religion, the value of Galileo’s materials and the progress of science towards a heliocentric model of the world, with the further effort of Newton, Einstein etc.

MacCaffrey, James. History of the Catholic Church: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution. Charleston: Forgotten Books, 1970.

The book provides a thorough account of Galileo’s life and propaganda of the Copernican model of the world. The author provides a substantiation for the fierce opposition to Galileo’s views explaining why the Ptolemaic system was widely acceptable. The acceptance of Copernican model would mean the complete revolution at all levels of culture, religion and perception of the world. The outcomes of Galileo’s struggle for rightness are chronologically described in religious terms, since the book is focused mainly on Catholicism and development of theological studies.

Mazur, Allan. Science Three, Religion Zero. Society 33 (May/June 2005): 20-21.

The article discusses the religious path of accepting the Copernican model of the world. The author argues that Copernicus was less intrusive with his theory, while Galileo was “brazen and obnoxious” in his effort to prove the absurdity of the Ptolemaic model. The hypothesis of the author is that in case Christianity had not accepted the Aristotelian model of the world, much of the seventeenth century’s heliocentric war could have been avoided. One more topic raised by the author is that in case of the contradictions found in Genesis, the religious thought was seriously undermined, since the belief in the incontestable truth of the Old Testament could not be executed any more.  The argument is finally supported by the dominance of science over religion.

McGrath, E. Alister. Christian Theology: An Introduction. (5^th ed.). San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons, 2010.

The author allocates a separate chapter to the Copernican and Galilean controversies in which he describes the Ptolemaic model as gradually growing too complex and unwieldy but unable to be replaced by any other one. The rise of the heliocentric model in the 16^th century is discussed with the proper regard of the debates raised by theologians because of its casting doubts on the heavenly truths of the Bible. Galileo’s favorable relationships with the senior circles of the church are described, and the rejection of his theory due to the declared seniority of the literal interpretation of the Bible is further on explained. The concluding discussion deals with finding out the true roots of the resistance that the Galilean model met; it is mostly regarded to the fight between Protestantism and Catholicism of that time, and Galileo being caught at the crossfire of their agitated debates about Biblical interpretations.

Ostermann, Martin. The history of the doctrine of creation; a Catholic perspective. In Koelbl, Ebert, M. (ed.). Geology and Religion: A History of Harmony and Hostility. The Geological Society, London: Special Publications, 2009, pp. 329-338.

The author explores the nature of relationships between science and religion, noting the emancipation nature thereof. He investigates the motivation of Copernicus, Giordano Bruno, Galileo and Charles Darwin regarding their discoveries; the author argues that the ridicule and social denial were the major factors that served the lack of confidence in their rightness, and not the persecutions of the church. More attention is attributed to the historical context of Galileo’s debate that occurred in the period of confrontation of Protestant and Catholic religious movements, interpretation of the Bible and finding the place for science that seemed to have no authoritative competence. The article is mainly dedicated to the constant struggle of the notions of creation and evolution (e.g. Darwin’s and Galileo’s ideas viewed as heresy and direct contradiction to the religious canons).

Zagzebski, Linda, and Timothy D. Miller. Readings in Philosophy of Religion: Ancient to Contemporary.

The writing of Galileo on the defense of the Copernican model, the letter to Castelli, is described in the present work. The author gives an account of how Galileo constructs argumentation for the contestable model and protects it against the accusations of the church. The main arguments of Galileo are constructed not on considering the Scripture wrong, but insisting on less literal interpretations of the geographical position of the Heavens as noted in the Bible and keeping the theologians from accepting the heliocentric model as contradicting to the static position of the Earth and the Heaven’s location above it.