Galileo Galilei And The Scientific Revolution Research Paper
Sierra Gardner
Professor Broxton
European History
11/5/2014
Galileo Galilei and the Scientific Revolution
Galileo Galilei, also referred to as the father of modern science, a man far beyond his years, only to become one of the world’s most renowned physicist, astronomer, and philosopher. An abundance of titles for a man who was born in a society of people who still believed that the heaver an object was the faster it would reach the ground, a world not yet in tune with modern science. Galileo’s significance for the formation of modern science lies in his refusal to allow science to no longer be guided by philosophy. Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy on February 15 1564.(Drake 21) Galileo’s father wanted him to pursue a career in medicine, as that was where the money was, so at the age of 11 Galileo was sent off to study in a Jesuit Monastery. After attending the Monastery for four years he came home to his father wanting to become a monk, this is not what his father wanted, so Galileo was withdrawn. In 1581 at the age of 17, he was enrolled in the University of Pisa to study medicine, as his father wished. (Galileo Galilei - Biography) Galileo’s early years at the University of Pisa earned him a reputation for contradicting his professors. Galileo found his liking for medicine was dwindling, but his fascination for math grew. His father allowed him to be tutored by the Tuscan court mathematician, Ricci, who designed fortifications, which no doubt impressed Galileo. Galileo proved to be an extremely talented mathematician, and in his early twenties he wrote some tracts extending results of Archimedes on centers of gravity of shapes. As the story goes, Galileo was in the cathedral at Vallombrosa when he observed a lamp hanging from the ceiling swaying with perfect rhythm. He was fascinated that the lamp took the same amount of time to swing no matter how large the range of swing. He later would apply his theories of pendulums to clocks. (Timeline of Galileo
Professor Broxton
European History
11/5/2014
Galileo Galilei and the Scientific Revolution
Galileo Galilei, also referred to as the father of modern science, a man far beyond his years, only to become one of the world’s most renowned physicist, astronomer, and philosopher. An abundance of titles for a man who was born in a society of people who still believed that the heaver an object was the faster it would reach the ground, a world not yet in tune with modern science. Galileo’s significance for the formation of modern science lies in his refusal to allow science to no longer be guided by philosophy. Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy on February 15 1564.(Drake 21) Galileo’s father wanted him to pursue a career in medicine, as that was where the money was, so at the age of 11 Galileo was sent off to study in a Jesuit Monastery. After attending the Monastery for four years he came home to his father wanting to become a monk, this is not what his father wanted, so Galileo was withdrawn. In 1581 at the age of 17, he was enrolled in the University of Pisa to study medicine, as his father wished. (Galileo Galilei - Biography) Galileo’s early years at the University of Pisa earned him a reputation for contradicting his professors. Galileo found his liking for medicine was dwindling, but his fascination for math grew. His father allowed him to be tutored by the Tuscan court mathematician, Ricci, who designed fortifications, which no doubt impressed Galileo. Galileo proved to be an extremely talented mathematician, and in his early twenties he wrote some tracts extending results of Archimedes on centers of gravity of shapes. As the story goes, Galileo was in the cathedral at Vallombrosa when he observed a lamp hanging from the ceiling swaying with perfect rhythm. He was fascinated that the lamp took the same amount of time to swing no matter how large the range of swing. He later would apply his theories of pendulums to clocks. (Timeline of Galileo