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Maria Rojas

March 31, 2012

The Heroic Narrative in Science: Galileo



       Out of the three types of scientific heroes described in Catherine Milne’s essay

“Philosophically Correct Science Stories? Examining the Implications of Heroic Science Stories

for School Science,” Galileo Galilei falls into the second category: he was an extraordinary well-

connected scientist marked by “blather, bluster, [and] brilliance” (Milne, pg. 185). Yet, this was

not always the case. Galileo had to climb the social ladder of his day through the gradual

development of social connections.

       In 1564, Galileo was born to Vincenzo and Guilia Galilei, a family who was constantly in

economic need. His father was a music teacher, but did not earn the desired income and his

mother was often dissatisfied over their quality of life. Yet, this did not deter Galileo from

becoming well known among the scholars of his day. He was brilliant by nature, very ambitious

and outspoken, motivated to succeed (perhaps influenced by his financial situation). In other

words, he had the necessary qualities for becoming famous.

       Galileo’s heroic journey begins at the University of Pisa, where he falls in love with

mathematics. His reputation slowly begins to rise, as he is offered the Chair of Mathematics at

University of Pisa, and later as a mathematical professor at the University of Padua. Yet, his true

break (sort of speak) does not come until many years later, when he improves the Dutch

spyglass: the telescope. The improved instrument astonishes many of his contemporaries and he

is recognized as a brilliant genius. He uses his telescope to study astronomy, eventually gaining

the title of “Mathematician” and “Philosopher” under Cosimo de Medici’s patronage.




	
                                                                                                   1
Yet, Galileo’s success is not only gaining him favoritism and supporters, but he is also

gaining hatred by his enemies. He is a clever intellect and debater to be sure, but his awareness

of it makes him arrogant. He is often caught blustering and sneering at his contemporaries, such

as Kepler, and boasting about himself. Hence, his “blather, bluster, brilliance” heroic style

becomes problematic, especially when confronted by the Catholic Church. In other words, the

social implication of his superb but arrogant heroic style is what causes his downhill.

       When Galileo publically supports Copernicus heliocentric theory, several of his followers

support him, like his student Benedetto Castelli. Nevertheless, he is also met with fervent

opposition. As demonstrated in the Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany in 1615,

Galileo generalizes his opposition and overestimates his power as a debater. Galileo claims that

he is met with opposition because: 1) it is a novel and unexpected surprise to some and 2) there

are those who seek to damage his reputation. Then, he goes on and eloquently argues that the

Bible should not be taken literally for there is too much to know. Otherwise, God would have not

given us the ability to think logically. Despite his arguments and efforts, however, the Sacred

Congregation banned the Copernicus theory a year later. If Galileo had been a “regular” and

“humble” type of scientist, perhaps he would have never mentioned the Copernicus theory again.

But then again, he was not. He was brilliant and he loved to bluster.

       Galileo continued to argue for the Copernicus theory, and in 1623, he saw a new potential

opportunity: the Catholic Church had appointed Pope Urban VIII. Galileo welcomed such news,

for Pope Urban VIII was an admirer of Galileo’s work (here his brilliancy helped him

tremendously). Galileo was given leniency and authorized to write a book about Copernicus

theory as long as it was in suppositional terms. Yet, Galileo, being smart himself, took advantage

of this authorization to the extreme: he wrote his famous Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief




	
                                                                                                  2
Systems of the World, a satire mocking the Pope. Galileo genuinely thought he was going to get

supporters, but that was not the case. The character representing the Church and Aristotelian

philosophy was Simplicio, a simple and feeble-minded fellow. On the other hand, Salviati

represented the smart intellectual character (Galileo) that supported the heliocentric theory. The

Catholic Church was obviously outraged, declaring Galileo a heretic. Hence, Galileo’s “blather,

bluster, brilliance” style is what led him to his doom: he died under house arrest.



Galileo’s Legacy

       Although Galileo’s heroic style is what made him unpopular towards the end of his life

(and caused him to die miserably), it is precisely his heroic style that makes so him memorable

today. He was a brilliant and strong-headed man, ready to debate and defend his views. As the

book Galileo’s Dream claims, he is considered the first scientist and opened the doors to

innumerous possibilities: that of science itself. It is his mathematical approach to life that led to

the development of the scientific method (that of observation), which no one knows where it will

lead us next…




	
                                                                                                      3
Works Cited

Milne, Catherine. “Philosophically Correct Science Stories? Examining the Implications of

       Heroic Science Stories for School Science.” Journal of Research in Science Teaching

       35.2 (1998): 175-187. Web. 27 Feb 2010.

“Modern History Sourcebook: Galileo Galilei: Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of

       Tuscany, 1615.” Fordham.edu. 1997. Web. 5 Mar. 2012.

       <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.asp>.

Robinson, Kim Stanley. Galileo’s Dream. New York: Spectra Books, 2010. Print.




	
                                                                                           4

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Galileo's paper

  • 1. Maria Rojas March 31, 2012 The Heroic Narrative in Science: Galileo Out of the three types of scientific heroes described in Catherine Milne’s essay “Philosophically Correct Science Stories? Examining the Implications of Heroic Science Stories for School Science,” Galileo Galilei falls into the second category: he was an extraordinary well- connected scientist marked by “blather, bluster, [and] brilliance” (Milne, pg. 185). Yet, this was not always the case. Galileo had to climb the social ladder of his day through the gradual development of social connections. In 1564, Galileo was born to Vincenzo and Guilia Galilei, a family who was constantly in economic need. His father was a music teacher, but did not earn the desired income and his mother was often dissatisfied over their quality of life. Yet, this did not deter Galileo from becoming well known among the scholars of his day. He was brilliant by nature, very ambitious and outspoken, motivated to succeed (perhaps influenced by his financial situation). In other words, he had the necessary qualities for becoming famous. Galileo’s heroic journey begins at the University of Pisa, where he falls in love with mathematics. His reputation slowly begins to rise, as he is offered the Chair of Mathematics at University of Pisa, and later as a mathematical professor at the University of Padua. Yet, his true break (sort of speak) does not come until many years later, when he improves the Dutch spyglass: the telescope. The improved instrument astonishes many of his contemporaries and he is recognized as a brilliant genius. He uses his telescope to study astronomy, eventually gaining the title of “Mathematician” and “Philosopher” under Cosimo de Medici’s patronage.   1
  • 2. Yet, Galileo’s success is not only gaining him favoritism and supporters, but he is also gaining hatred by his enemies. He is a clever intellect and debater to be sure, but his awareness of it makes him arrogant. He is often caught blustering and sneering at his contemporaries, such as Kepler, and boasting about himself. Hence, his “blather, bluster, brilliance” heroic style becomes problematic, especially when confronted by the Catholic Church. In other words, the social implication of his superb but arrogant heroic style is what causes his downhill. When Galileo publically supports Copernicus heliocentric theory, several of his followers support him, like his student Benedetto Castelli. Nevertheless, he is also met with fervent opposition. As demonstrated in the Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany in 1615, Galileo generalizes his opposition and overestimates his power as a debater. Galileo claims that he is met with opposition because: 1) it is a novel and unexpected surprise to some and 2) there are those who seek to damage his reputation. Then, he goes on and eloquently argues that the Bible should not be taken literally for there is too much to know. Otherwise, God would have not given us the ability to think logically. Despite his arguments and efforts, however, the Sacred Congregation banned the Copernicus theory a year later. If Galileo had been a “regular” and “humble” type of scientist, perhaps he would have never mentioned the Copernicus theory again. But then again, he was not. He was brilliant and he loved to bluster. Galileo continued to argue for the Copernicus theory, and in 1623, he saw a new potential opportunity: the Catholic Church had appointed Pope Urban VIII. Galileo welcomed such news, for Pope Urban VIII was an admirer of Galileo’s work (here his brilliancy helped him tremendously). Galileo was given leniency and authorized to write a book about Copernicus theory as long as it was in suppositional terms. Yet, Galileo, being smart himself, took advantage of this authorization to the extreme: he wrote his famous Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief   2
  • 3. Systems of the World, a satire mocking the Pope. Galileo genuinely thought he was going to get supporters, but that was not the case. The character representing the Church and Aristotelian philosophy was Simplicio, a simple and feeble-minded fellow. On the other hand, Salviati represented the smart intellectual character (Galileo) that supported the heliocentric theory. The Catholic Church was obviously outraged, declaring Galileo a heretic. Hence, Galileo’s “blather, bluster, brilliance” style is what led him to his doom: he died under house arrest. Galileo’s Legacy Although Galileo’s heroic style is what made him unpopular towards the end of his life (and caused him to die miserably), it is precisely his heroic style that makes so him memorable today. He was a brilliant and strong-headed man, ready to debate and defend his views. As the book Galileo’s Dream claims, he is considered the first scientist and opened the doors to innumerous possibilities: that of science itself. It is his mathematical approach to life that led to the development of the scientific method (that of observation), which no one knows where it will lead us next…   3
  • 4. Works Cited Milne, Catherine. “Philosophically Correct Science Stories? Examining the Implications of Heroic Science Stories for School Science.” Journal of Research in Science Teaching 35.2 (1998): 175-187. Web. 27 Feb 2010. “Modern History Sourcebook: Galileo Galilei: Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, 1615.” Fordham.edu. 1997. Web. 5 Mar. 2012. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.asp>. Robinson, Kim Stanley. Galileo’s Dream. New York: Spectra Books, 2010. Print.   4