•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”.
•