(Copernican) Experiences and the (Copernican) Bible in Galileo’s Letter to Castelli
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Supplementary Files

Peter Apian

Keywords

Galileo
Letter to Castelli
heliocentrism
Biblical hermeneutics
natural investigation

How to Cite

Vesel, M. (2015). (Copernican) Experiences and the (Copernican) Bible in Galileo’s Letter to Castelli. Teorie vědy Theory of Science, 37(2), 123-158. https://doi.org/10.46938/tv.2015.298

Abstract

(Copernican) Experiences and the (Copernican) Bible in Galileo's Letter to Castelli 

Abstract: The article focuses on Galileo's Letter to Castelli, 21 December 1613. The author analyzes Galileo's hermeneutical principles established in the first part of the letter (the Bible should be excluded from natural investigation) and his literal interpretation of the passage from the Book of Joshua 10, 12-13, in Copernican terms, in the second part of the letter. Galileo appears to use the Bible as a scientific authority, supporting his Copernican views, and thus he seems to contradict his own hermeneutical principles. The author argues that Galileo's position is consistent, especially if one takes into account the historical context of its genesis, that is, in the context of the constant, theologically-inspired attacks on Copernicus and Galileo and his commitment to the heliocentric world system (the movement of the earth contradicts the Bible) and in the context of his newly-made telescopic observations and discoveries.

Keywords: Galileo; Letter to Castelli; heliocentrism; Biblical hermeneutics, natural investigation

(Kopernikánská) zkušenost a (kopernikánská) bible v Galileově Dopisu Castellimu

Abstrakt: Článek se zaměřuje na Galileův Dopis Castellimu z 21. prosince 1613. Autor anylzuje Galileovy hermeneutické principy představené v první části dopisu (bible by měla být vyloučena ze zkoumání přírody) a jeho doslovnou interpretaci pasáže z knihy Jozue (10: 12-13), v duchu kopernikanismu, která se objevuje ve druhé části dopisu. Zdá se, že Galileo užívá bibli jako vědeckou autoritu a na podporu svých kopernikánských názorů, a tak se ocitá v rozporu se svými vlastními hermeneutickými principy. Autor tvrdí, že Galileovo stanovisko je konzistentní, zvláště pokud se vezme v úvahu historický kontext jeho vzniku, tj. kontext stálých, teologicky motivovaných útoků na Koperníka, Galilea a jeho věrnost heliocentrickému systému světa (pohyb Země odporuje bibli) a kontext jeho nedávných teleskopických pozorování a objevů.

Klíčová slova: Galileo; dopis Castellimu; heliocentrismus; biblická hermeneutika; zkoumání přírody 

PDF (Czech)

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