•Real issue
is one of “Authority”, not Astronomy
•Controversy
takes place in the context of the Protestant Reformation and the 30 Years War (between
Catholic and Protestant
Europe)
–Council of
Trent (1546) has rejected right of personal interpretation of the Bible
–Panel of 11
theologians (lower level group) has decided that the bible favors the Aristotelian description of the Universe
–Kepler is a
German Protestant
–
•1616: Galileo “privately” prohibited from
debating Copernican vs. Aristotelian model – but Siderial Messenger not suppressed.
•1623: Galileo meets with new Pope Urban VIII
(friend of Galileo) who doesn’t lift prohibition, but seems to encourage him.
•1629: Galileo publishes the “Dialog Concerning the
Two Chief World Systems”.
•