Galileo, Courtier: The Practice of Science in the Culture of Absolutism (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) (Hardcover)

by Mario Biagioli (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Biagioli here views Galileo's career in a new light. Instead of the traditional view of Galileo as the "new scientist" championing the Copernican cause against the Aristotelians, Biagioli presents a convincing argument for Galileo as the courtly gentleman whose patronage goals drove his scientific work. Biagioli begins by describing how client-patron relationships worked in early 17th-century Italy, how Galileo used those social structures to advance himself from artisan to university professor to Cosimo de Medici's Court Philosopher and how his actions helped raise mathematics and natural science to a respected position. Biagioli then discusses how patronage guided scientific discourse, ending with Galileo's eventual downfall. Though scholarly, this superb book is a joy to read and provides new insight into the history of science.
- Eric D. Albright, Galter Health Sciences Lib., Northwestern Univ., Chicago
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Informed by currents in sociology, cultural anthropology, and literary theory, Galileo, Courtier is neither a biography nor a conventional history of science. In the court of the Medicis and the Vatican, Galileo fashioned both his career and his science to the demands of patronage and its complex systems of wealth, power, and prestige. Biagioli argues that Galileo's courtly role was integral to his science--the questions he chose to examine, his methods, even his conclusions.

Galileo, Courtier is a fascinating cultural and social history of science highlighting the workings of power, patronage, and credibility in the development of science.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (September 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226045595
• ISBN-13: 978-0226045597
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,069,616 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars controversial but important, October 21, 2004

By	thoughtful reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galileo, Courtier: The Practice of Science in the Culture of Absolutism (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) (Paperback)

I read the Shank-Biagioli dispute the reviewer mentions. If you accept Shank's critique, it undermines one chapter but not the entire book. For anyone interested in Galileo, scientific patronage, or religion and science, this is a must-read. Even if you do not agree with everything Biagioli says, his book has been incredibly influential.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A whole new Galileo, August 11, 2004

By	James Williams (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Galileo, Courtier: The Practice of Science in the Culture of Absolutism (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) (Paperback)

This book is a real eye-opener. Fascinating, readable, well-researched, Mario Biagioli takes us beyond the ever-present conventional portraits of Galileo as "father of modern science." Biagioli weaves an enthralling tale that takes us into a world that is very different than our own. Here we see Galileo in his 16th century context, rather than through the anachronism of enlightenment and positivism. And what a strange and wonderful picture it is. A world of courtly patronage and emblamatics that Galileo navigated as skillfully as he did the worlds of mathematics and natural philosophy. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history, science, the Renaissance or even just a good story with fascinating ideas and personalities.

4.0 out of 5 stars a different kind of scientific career: court life, December 10, 2006

By	P. W. Duggan (North Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Galileo, Courtier: The Practice of Science in the Culture of Absolutism (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) (Paperback)

In this book we learn how Galileo shaped is scientific career, or rather how his being involved in a princely court influenced his works and the debates he become involved in (e.g., bouancy, sunspots).

Mario Biagioli takes us through court life, and descibed Galileo's unique position in this court culture. Galileo was able to become close to a prince (Cosimo II), and used his title as "philosopher" to try to validate his ideas.

We also learn how Galileo's fate was tied to court life. A pope, who as a Cardinal enjoyed Galileo's works, turned upon Galileo due to criticisms by his peers. Biagioli calls this "the fall of the favorite."

This is an interesting look at Galileo's professional life and its influence on his scientific musings and how court life gave him both his glory and downfall.