User:Ohuqq/Galileo’s Misstatements in the Letter to the Grand Duchess

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The "Letter to The Grand Duchess Christina" is an essay written in 1615 by Galileo Galilei. The intention of this letter was to accommodate Copernicanism with the doctrines of the Catholic Church. Galileo tried to use the ideas of Church Fathers and Doctors to show that any condemnation of Copernicanism would be inappropriate. In the contents of this essay, there are five misstatements made by Galileo concerning Nicholas Copernicus.

Galileo’s Misstatements about Copernicus

Translations of writing selections of Galileo in the 1950’s show statements about Nicholas Copernicus. In Galileo’s, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina, statements made by Galileo have been brought about as historical errors in Galileo’s own remarks. One of the first of the five errors in Galileo’s remark state that Nicholas Copernicus was not only Catholic but a priest and a canon.¹

The second error in Galileo’s essay was that of saying Copernicus was called to Rome, though Copernicus does not say he was called to Rome, Copernicus otherwise states that the Pope Leo X consulted in the greatest experts in theology and astronomy,¹ and The Holy Roman Emperor dispatched a message, in short, stating that every great theologist and astronomer come to the Lateran Council, but if they cannot, then to send and carefully write their opinions. Copernicus did not receive a special call to Rome, despite what Galileo’s misstatement had mentioned. Galileo’s second error of Copernicus being called to Rome could be argued as confusion of someone else such as Regiomontanus.

Galileo’s third error was of Copernicus and saying he has published his system of six books at the instance of the Cardinal of Capua and the Bishop of Culm. Galileo contends that Copernicus wrote the Revolutions by order of the Pope in the Letter to the Grand Duchess. The tasks of the writings of the six books was given to Copernicus by Paul of Middelburg, whose power to give orders was transferred to the pope. Thus Galileo saying that “Copernicus assumed his laborious enterprise by order of the supreme pontiff.” Was in short, an error.

The fourth misstatement of Galileo in his essay, pertains to the works of Copernicus in a book called Revolutions. Galileo states, that this book was accepted by the holy Church and it had been read and studied by everyone without the faintest hint of any objection ever being conceived against its doctrine.¹ Though the initiator of German Protestantism says in short, that a certain new astronomer made a remark on how this new astronomer proved that the earth moves just as how anyone in a wagon or boat would suppose that they are still and that earth and trees are moving. The new astronomer is not named though it is clear to be a reference to Copernicus.

The fifth misstatement of Galileo in his essay is to be concerned with his quote, “Since that time not only has the calendar been regulated by his [Copernicus’] teachings, but tabes of all the motions of the planets have been calculated as well.” (Galileo’s assertion in the Letter to the Grand Duchess). The Gregorian calendar as Galileo claimed, was regulated in conformity with Copernicus’ doctrine. Though on the announcement of the calendar, Gregory XIII had said, in short, that Aloisio Giglio had written a book showing the means of certain new cycles devised by Giglio himself. The Gregorian calendar was regulated in conformity of the doctrine of Allison Giglio and not of Nicholas Copernicus.

References

1. Rosen, E. (1958). Galileo’s Misstatements about Copernicus. Isis, 49(3), 319–330. http://www.jstor.org/stable/226939
2. Rosen, E. (1975). Was Copernicus’ Revolutions Approved by the Pope? Journal of the History of Ideas, 36(3), 531–542. https://doi.org/10.2307/2708661