Galileo, for Copernicanism and for the Church (Studi Galileiani) [Paperback]

Annibale Fantoli (Author), George V. Coyne (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Studi Galileiani | Publication Date: September 1994

After the publication of the second English edition of this book, the opening of the archives of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Congregation of the Holy Office), which occurred in 1998, brought to light important new documents on aspects of the trial of Galileo and on steps taken by the Church in 1757. New historical research, especially that of Francesco Beretta, on procedures of the Holy Office and into the legal aspects of the Inquisition, has provided important material for a better interpretation of the decisions taken by the Catholic Church in 1616 and 1633.

The third English edition of Galileo: For Copernicanism and for the Church takes advantage of this new research.

". . . Deals with Galileo's attempts to have Copernicanism at least tolerated and his consequent endeavors to save the Catholic church from making a damaging mistake. . . . Despite Fantoli's modesty in describing his aims, this book is one that any specialist in the history of science could learn from." -Nature

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

About the Author

ANNIBALE FANTOLI received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of Rome and his Licentiate degree in philosophy and theology from the Gregorian University. He has taught courses in cosmology and the philosophy of science at the Universities of Sophia, Aoyama, and Musashino. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 567 pages
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press; 2nd edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0268010323
• ISBN-13: 978-0268010324
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,740,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested in the Galileo affair., July 8, 1998

By 

Scott Franklin ([e-mail]) (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galileo, for Copernicanism and for the Church (Studi Galileiani) (Paperback)

Fantoli has written a remarkably well-balanced account of Galileo's "affair" with the church. The book does not take sides; it is seen that the church and Galileo both made numerous errors (some of ego, some of philosophy). Furthermore, Fantoli asserts that one cannot divorce the scientific argument from the political and social situations, a premise that helps understand some of the pope's actions. Meticulously documented with many footnotes and translations of primary sources this book is the most thorough treatment of the affair I've seen.