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. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
| ISBN: | 9780192854568 |
| Publication date: | 22nd February 2001 |
| Author: | Stillman Drake |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press an imprint of OUP OXFORD |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 127 pages |
| Series: | A Very Short Introduction |
| Genres: |
History of science Astronomy, space and time Physics |