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Galileo: A Very Short Introduction

Stillman Drake

Price: £6.99 (paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-285456-8
Publication date: 22 February 2001
152 pages, 22 halftones & line illus, 174x111 mm
Series: Very Short Introductions
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A sample of this book is available in PDF format
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Reviews
  • 'stimulating and very convincing.' - Theology

Description
  • Galileo is the best known figure in the history of astronomy -- known for his insistence that the sun, rather than the earth, is the centre of the solar system, and for being the first person to use a telescope to observe the heavens
  • His work was also of huge importance in providing the basis for modern physics
  • Stillman Drake was one of the most important authorities on Galileo's work, and translated many of his scientific writings
  • Controversial views about the causes of Galileo's trial and condemnation by the Inquisition
  • First published in the Past Masters series, where it sold 13,000 copies
In a startling reinterpretation of the evidence, Stillman Drake advances the hypothesis that Galileo's trial and condemnation by the Inquisition was caused not by his defiance of the Church, but by the hostility of contemporary philosophers.

Galileo's own beautifully lucid arguments are used to show how his scientific method was utterly divorced from the Aristotelian approach to physics in that it was based on a search not for causes but for laws. Galileo's method was of overwhelming significance for the development of modern physics, and led to a final parting of the ways between science and philosophy.

Contents
List of illustrations
Introduction
1. The background
2. Galileo's early years
3. Conflicts with philosophers
4. Conflicts with astronomers and theologians
5. The Dialogue and the Inquisition
6. The final years
Reading list
Index

Authors, editors, and contributors


Stillman Drake, Professor of the History of Science, University of Toronto (Emeritus)


Links to web resources and related information
Visit the VSI website


More in the same subject area:
History of science
Astronomy, space & time
Physics

The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.

 
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