Free Response Practice Test #1

"Why are the trials and tribulations of Galileo often considered both predicative of the future of Western Civilization as well as a perfect encapsulation of the context of his own time?"

           Galileo was man of many parts. Galileo dedicated his life to the sciences, and was later recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern science. He was faced with difficult decisions in life about science, religion, and loyalty but he ultimately choose what was right for himself. Galileo encompassed the future of science and the context of his own time through his trials and tribulations which included the invention of a new telescope, further supporting of the Copernican theory, and his choice to stand by heliocentrism instead of geocentricism which was ultimately a fundamental belief of the Catholic Church and made him a heretic.

           As a young boy, Galileo never dreamed of becoming a scientist. However, after studying to be a doctor while at a university he realized he was much more interested in the worlds of mathematics and science. Galileo went on to study and develop ideas about kinematics, the tides, and Copernicus' theory. He studied the acceleration of objects and all matters dealing with kinematics so thoroughly that he was later labeled the father of physics. However, Galileo made a huge contribution to the future of modern science with the invention of a new telescope. Galileo created a telescope with about 30x magnification which allowed for great study of earth, the skies, and eventually outer space. His telescope is often thought of as a terrestrial telescope, but it also allowed for an early view of the stars and planets. The magnification for which the telescope was able to reach was an example of the future of science because nothing that precise had ever been created before. Although, his telescope still reflected his own times because he only had so many tools from which to make his telescope. His scientific advancement was limited by the technology of his time.

          Galileo was a strong believer in Copernicus' theory. He agreed with scientist Nicholas Copernicus on his theory that the earth was not the center of the universe, but the sun was. By stating this belief, Galileo went against his own times because this theory clashed with the Catholic religion. He making the choice of science over religion. Galileo made his beliefs known and was always trying to provide new evidence in the favor of Copernicus' theory. This was a futuristic way of doing things since most men or women of the time would not have made public their ideas that went against the teaching of the Catholic Church. It could also be argued that Galileo was also a man of his time. He could be thought of as a religious revolutionary since he chose science over religion. All around Europe, religious revolutions were being started for different reasons. Why should science not be a reason? Galileo was summoned to the Catholic Inquisition, but he was able to avoid persecution since his friend was a bishop. This friend would later become Pope Urban VIII. Galileo was told though that he needed to stop his research into Copernicus' theory since it went against Catholic teaching. 

         

           Galileo continued on in his research, despite his close run in with the Inquisition. He was determined to prove that Copernicus was right. Galileo had made his own telescope, and through rigorous study and observation he knew the sun was the center of the universe, not the earth. He decided to write a book that showed his evidence in support of Copernicus' theory. The Catholic Church, however, learned that Galileo was writing a book. At the time, Pope Urban VIII and Galileo were no longer as close of friends since being pope demanded much of Pope Urban's time. Galileo was summoned again to the Inquisition, but his time he was persecuted as a heretic. He was forced to say that Copernicus' theory was incorrect, he was put on house arrest for the rest of his life, and any of his writings or future writings were banned from being published. But all of this did not stop Galileo. Galileo continued to write books and study astronomy, along with other sciences. Galileo was a revolutionary in this sense, and pointed towards modern times since he refused to let religion erase his beliefs. He was not a dumb man though, so he followed the rules of his house arrest and did not attempt to publish any of his works. Galileo was a perfect mix of the present and the future.

          Galileo was a revolutionary. He was also a man of his time. He had a myriad of ideas and theories, but he knew how to push the envelope with them, without actually bursting it. He tried to point to the future, while trying to maintain the ideas of the present. Galileo was able to maintain a mixture of present and future through his trials and tribulations because of his modern observations, his choice of science over religion, and his continuation of his beliefs.