Galileo and the Scientific Revolution

by Laura Fermi, Gilberto Bernardini

"As fresh and invigorating a work in the field of science biography as was its hero in his day." — Science
"A clear exposition of his discoveries, methods, and experiments…Recommended." — Library Journal
An absorbing account of the origins of modern science as well as a biography of the revolutionary thinker, this inspiring book was co-written by a former director of the Italian Institute for Nuclear Physics and a historian of science (who was also the wife of physicist Enrico Fermi). It begins in Galileo's youth, with his return to his native city of Pisa to train as a physician. Instead, the student became captivated by the power of mathematical reasoning — an interest that led him to apply mathematical logic to natural events and, ultimately, to invent the concept of experimentation. Galileo's progress from student to teacher to scientific innovator is traced, with particular emphasis on his experiments with building and refining telescopes and his unprecedented observations of the moon and planets. The dramatic results of his findings, including his refutation of Aristotelian theory and his support of Copernican doctrine, are related in full, along with his clash with the papal inquisition and his tragic demise under house arrest. Written with a warm appreciation for the wonders of Galileo's achievements and with impeccable scholarship, this book concludes with a survey of the scientist's remarkable legacy. 12 figures. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.

Genres: Science, History, Biography

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2003

About the author

Laura Capon Fermi was an Italian and naturalized-American writer and political activist and the wife of Nobel Prize physicist Enrico Fermi.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book up the same day as reading “Starry Messenger” by Sis. I wanted to read more details behind the man who wrote such impressive observations that were included in the Sis book. My second reason was why I bought this book at all, which is to vet it for school as an alternative for “The Magic Numbers” by Rosen which (at the time I was reading it earlier this year) was all but impossible to find in print.

This book feaures a quick overview timeline in the introduction of Galileo’s life. I forgot it was only the intro while reading and was initially disappointed that his childhood and education was being so quickly glossed over. Thankfully chapter 1 starts with some context of history, which I appreciated, to place Galileo properly in history. It takes the time to explain the stronghold of Aristotle’s philosophies that permeated most branches of education Galileo encountered. This is helpful as a reader to provide the framework of ideas and traditions Galileo lived within and became notorious for refuting. The authors make much of the freedom Galileo demanded to work within when he experimented and tested and retested—more specifically, freedom from the longstanding philosophical and religious traditions and lines of thinking that had until that time had been upheld without much question at all.

Several of the great legends and finer points of Galileo’s biography are explained and debunked, including several that are illustrated in Peter Sis’ “Starry Messenger” picture book biography, which makes me wonder what sources Sis referred to in *his* research of Galileo’s life and works.

Posits that Galileo was a real follower and advocate of Copernicus and Archemeaies, along with Johannes Kepler, with whom he exchanged letters (but never met in person), and that he railed against Aristotelian traditions, but out of respect continued to teach the Ptolemaic system of astronomy. Some descriptions are on the more technical side and I had to reread them slower to understand, but overall the authors presented the material and contexts in a way that even I could grasp, having little to no prior knowledge other than hearing Galileo’s name, knowing he had something to do with the study of stars/planets, and that there was some issue he had with the Catholic Church. This book fleshed out those vague impressions into a detailed, well researched narrative that helped me understand Galileo’s impact upon the realm of science, how the prevailing traditions and *power* of the Catholic Church affected culture at large as well as Galileo personally later in life. I read the inquisition’s interactions with and accusations towards Galileo as being presented without anti-Catholic undertones, but instead told the facts as they happened and were known: the Inquisition was secretive, held much power, did employ torture as a method, thus was understandably feared by the people. The authors did present context to explain the bulk of reasoning behind banning, sentencing, and punishing Galileo (the threat of Protestantism ‘heresay’ flourishing is pointed to as the biggest influence, secondary being the presumed conflict with Scriptures and centuries of traditional interpretation of how the heavens were arranged by God), so I think this book would be one Catholic families would could be comfortable using as Galileo is repeatedly described as a devout man of faith who did not see science as a refute to faith, but a study that enhanced and utilized the God-given awarenesses of man when viewing creation. He ultimately was submissive to the Church’s will and accepted their punishment, living out his life on house arrest. Towards the end of the book his loving relationship with his daughter Sister Mary Celeste is described which makes me want to seek out both the letters that survive of their correspondence during the later years of his life, and also ‘Galileo’s Daughter’ by Sobel. This book also makes me want a copy of Galileo’s own works, particularly ‘Two New Sciences’ and ‘A Dialogue’ both of which are referenced several times throughout the book. My overall impression is that though somewhat stretching in some of the more technical aspects, this will be a suitable book to sub for ‘Magic Numbers’. I had a much easier time understanding the technical details in this book than I did in ‘Brunelleschi’s Dome’ by King, for comparisons sake.

Content considerations: mentions Galileo falling in love with a woman who he did not marry and had three children with. Mentions that such relationships were common in those days, and ‘few frowned upon’ them.

Horoscopes are mentioned as a necessary and expected practice employed by doctors, as well as written out for children, and mentions Galileo wrote one out for his eldest daughter. No other considerations noted.

[Vance J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although written 60 years ago, I thought it accurate to what I’ve read in other sources. The writing is simple, and I think this small book could be a nice introduction to Galileo for a high school student.