Galileos Mathematical-Experimental Method Essay - 1857 Words

Gabriel Glasser Professor Damnjanovic December 3, 2012 The Unveiling of the Heavens In summer of 1609, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) pointed his revolutionary astronomical telescope to the heavens under the starry Venetian sky; his greatly important observations unveiled the mysteries of universe and would end up changing the course of scientific thought forever. Galileo lived in an age where there was much status quo, when scientists and philosophers would accept scientific and religious doctrine that had stood for hundreds, if not thousands, of years instead of challenging the accepted knowledge in favor of intellectual progress. Galileo’s scientific methods lead to significant discoveries explaining key scientific laws, such as the†¦show more content†¦(Frova 41) Galileo’s confirmation of Copernican’s heliocentric theory explained through logical arguments and mathematical laws clearly the answers to these difficulties. Galileo’s observational discoveries in astronomy allowed for the basis to begin discrediting the old ideas in favor of a new understanding of the universe. The longstanding way of thought in astronomy favored a spherically rotating universe around the Earth with unchanging and perfectly symmetrical constellations and planets. The contemporaries of Galileo believed, for example, that the moon had the face of a shiny, polished sphere, whereas Galileo showed that the surface of the moon to be imperfect with rough mountainous areas along with deep valleys (or â€Å"seas† as he called them) marked with dark sports (Frova 162). This surface very much paralleled the rough surface of the Earth (meaning that Earth’s surface was not unique). Also with his improved telescope, Galileo was capable of viewing the stars with much more clarity. Galileo discovered newly formed stars and star clusters, which challenged the Aristotelian philosophy of an ageless universe. Additional ly, Galileo observed four of Jupiter’s largest moons orbiting around the planet (Frova 179). His observations of Jupiter’s satellites did not agree with the idea that all heavenly bodies must rotate around a central Earth. Finally, and arguably most important, Galileo showed Venus’s phases andShow MoreRelatedGalileo was the Greatest Innovator and Scientific Mind of his Time829 Words   |  3 Pagesphilosophers fly alone like eagles.†(Axelrod 9 ) . Galileo is one of the greatest scientific minds and innovators of his time. Many questioned his methods of discovery, reasons for why something was happening in experiments he conducted. Galileo’s reasoning is the focal point to his research and helps with the idea of understanding how he thought. Galileo’s inventions were the most innovative and advanced in his field at the time. Most importantly Galileo was just trying to find truth , â€Å"Galileo wasRead MoreGalileo1113 Words   |  5 Pagese xperiments to test his ideas, which led him to be regarded as the father of experimental science. Galileo was born on February 15th, 1564 in Pisa, and was the oldest of seven children. His father, Vincenzo Galilei was a famous composer, lutenist, and music theorist. In 1572 at the age of eight, Galileo’s family moved to Florence, however Galileo stayed behind in Pisa and lived with Muzio Tedaldi who was related to Galileo’s mother for 2 two years. By the age of ten, Galileo joined his family in FlorenceRead MoreGalileo Galilei, Astronomer/Mathematician5105 Words   |  21 Pagesof motion, and supporting Copernicanism effectively. He has been referred to as the father of modern astronomy, as the father of modern physics, and as father of science. 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NewtonRead MoreThe Impact of Scientific Revolution on Physics as an Independent Field of Study1214 Words   |  5 Pagesof the new methods proposed by Bacon, Galileo, Descartes, and Newton; the importance of experimentation to the scientific method was reaffirmed; the importance of God to science was for the most part invalidated, and the pursuit of science itself (rather than philosophy) gained validity on its own terms. The change to the medieval idea of science occurred for four reasons (1) Seventeenth century scientists and philosophers were able to collaborate with members of the mathematical and astronomicalRead MoreThe Scientific Revolution Essay1165 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscoveries by those who used his data and observation methods. One such person was his student, Johannes Kepler. The text tells us that Kepler, who was trained for the Lutheran ministry, believed that the universe was built on mystical mathematical relationships and a musical harmony of the heavenly bodies. He spent his time trying to explain this divine invention by analyzing and working with Brahes huge collection of data. Using mathematical proofs, he confirmed that Copernicus had chosen theRead More Galileo: The Father of Science Essay examples1798 Words   |  8 Pagesphilosopher, and physicist and was known to be a major part of the scientific revolution. With all of his elaborate drawings and notes he has been referred to as the father of modern astronomy, father of modern physi cs, and as father of science. Galileos experimentation was an active process involved the investigating of causal relationships among variables. His studies in scientific experimentation would quickly become and forever remain a cornerstone of unlocking the secrets of nature and the universeRead MoreAn Examination Of The Newtonian Method1116 Words   |  5 Pages Connor McCourt Mr. Fisher Junior Mathematics November 15, 2015 An Examination of The Newtonian Method The aim of Isaac Newton’s Principia is explicitly stated in his preface to the reader: His desire is to reestablish natural philosophy; to show how philosophers can employ various mathematical and experimental methods to phenomena in order to reach conclusions about nature, particularly about the motions of solid bodies. Through the utilization of geometry to describe celestial firmamentRead MoreEssay about Galileo Galilei2120 Words   |  9 Pageswhich made his name known throughout Italy. With his other interest of philosophy, Galileo studied fine arts and received an instructer position in the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence in 1588 where he met Cigoli, a painter, who applied Galileo’s astronomical observations in his painting. This led Galileo to expand his mentality to be more aesthetic. In 1589, he was back to Pisa and was appointed to the chair of mathematics. Two years later, his father dies and had to support his youngerRead MorePhilosophers and Scientists in Psychology2420 Words   |  10 Pageswith the problem of mind and body and how they interact. While the philosophical distinction between mind and body can be traced back to the Greeks, it is due to the work of Renà © Descartes. When Descartes friend, Marin Mersenne, wrote to him of Galileos fate at the hands of the Inquisition, Descartes immediately suppressed his own treatise. As a result, the worlds first extended essay on physiological psychology was published only well after its authors death. Descarte was the first to talk about