登陆注册
14812400000116

第116章

In the circumstances a decision favourable to Galileo could hardly have been expected. The old Ptolemaic system was so closely bound up with the philosophic and scientific teaching of the age that its abandonment meant little less than a complete revolution in the world of learning. As yet the vast body of those who were specially versed in the subject treated the new theory with derision, while the arguments put forward by Galileo in its defence were so weak and inconclusive that most of them have been long since abandoned. The hostile attitude, too, of the Lutheran divines could hardly fail to exercise some influence on the Roman consultors. In 1615 Galileo appeared before the Inquisition to defend his views, but without any result. The heliocentric system was condemned as being opposed to Scripture and therefore heretical, and Galileo was obliged to promise never again to put it forward (1616). The work of Copernicus and those of some other writers who advocated the Copernican system were condemned /donec corrigantur/. The decision of the congregation was wrong, but in the circumstances not unintelligible. Nor can it be contended for a moment that from this mistake any solid argument can be drawn against the infallibility of the Pope. Paul V. was undoubtedly present at the session in which the condemnation was agreed upon and approved of the verdict, but still the decision remained only the decision of the congregation and not the binding /ex-cathedra/ pronouncement of the Head of the Church. Indeed, it appears from a letter of Cardinal Bellarmine that the congregation regarded its teaching as only provisional, and that if it were proved beyond doubt that the sun was stationary it would be necessary to admit that the passages of Scripture urged against this view had been misunderstood.

Galileo left Rome with no intention of observing the promise he had made. After the election of Urban VIII. who, as Cardinal Barberini, had been his faithful friend and supporter, Galileo returned to Rome (1624) in the hope of procuring a revision of the verdict; but though he was received with all honour, and accorded an annual pension from the papal treasury his request was refused. He returned to Florence, where he published eight years later a new book on the subject, couched in the form of a dialogue between supporters of the rival systems, the Ptolemaic and the Copernican, in which Simplicissimus, the defender of the old view, was not only routed but covered with ridicule. Such a flagrant violation of his promise could not pass unnoticed. He was summoned to appear once more before the Inquisition, and arrived in Rome in February 1633. At first he denied that he had written in favour of his views since 1616, then he pleaded guilty, confessed that he was in error, and appealed to the court to deal gently with an old and infirm man. He was found guilty, and was condemned to recite the seven penitential psalms once a week for three years, and to be imprisoned at the pleasure of the Inquisition. It is not true to say that Galileo was shut up in the dungeons of the Inquisition. He was detained only for a few days, and even during that time he was lodged in the comfortable apartments of one of the higher officials. Neither is it correct to state that he was tortured or subjected to any bodily punishment. He was released almost immediately on parole, and lived for a time at Rome in the palace of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Later on he retired to his villa at Arcetri, and finally he was allowed to return to Florence. In 1642, fortified by the last sacraments and comforted by the papal benediction, he passed away. His body was laid to rest within the walls of the Church of Santa Croce at Florence. Most of his misfortunes were due to his own rashness and the imprudence of his friends and supporters. His condemnation is the sole scientific blunder that can be laid to the charge of the Roman Congregation. That his condemnation was not due to any hatred of science or to any desire of the Roman ecclesiastics to oppose the progress of knowledge is evident enough from the favours and honours lavished upon his predecessors in the same field of research, Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, Peurbach, Muller (Regiomontanus), and Copernicus.

(g) Progress of Theological Studies.

Hurter, /Nomenclator Literarius Theologiae Catholicae/, 3 auf., 1903. Werner, /Geschichte der apologetischen und polemischen Literatur der Christlichen Theologie/, 1865. Turmel, /Histoire de la theologie positive/, etc., 1906. Slater, /A Short History of Moral Theology/, 1909. Gigot, /General Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures/, 1900. De Smedt, /Introductio Generalis ad Historiam Ecclesiasticam/, 1876. Benigni, /Historiae Ecclesiasticae Repertorium/, 1902. Collins, /The Study of Ecclesiastical History/, 1903.

In the latter half of the fifteenth and the first quarter of the sixteenth centuries theological studies had reached a very low ebb.

同类推荐
  • Penrod and Sam

    Penrod and Sam

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • FERRAGUS

    FERRAGUS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Club of Queer Trades

    The Club of Queer Trades

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Wolfville

    Wolfville

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 老学究语

    老学究语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 狼神巅峰

    狼神巅峰

    被上千神秘人围攻,昔日兄弟皆倒下,“兄弟们你们失去的我都会为你们双倍讨回来的”。昔日狼王再次回归,他能否站在这个时代的巅峰?
  • 化生诀

    化生诀

    一个自出生起就注定不平凡的人,至亲之人的不断离世,让他成为一个可怜的孤儿,可是身怀异能的他怎么可能就此没落?看他如何从一个乡野农夫成为人上人,看他怎样从屌丝到游刃有余的穿梭在众多美女,御姐身边。我孤身一人,又有何惧!!!
  • 灿白之世界

    灿白之世界

    ≡≡≡≡≡≡≡世界≡≡≡≡≡≡≡#02077年,战争全面爆发。存活的生物概括的分为两种。有超能力的,和没有超能力的,纯种人类。
  • 继承世界咱们放肆活

    继承世界咱们放肆活

    高二A班,一名韩硕“男子”正专心听讲。这时,一群黑衣人鱼贯而入。坐在最前端的黑衣人毕恭毕敬的走到韩硕面前,:小姐,请跟我们回去吧!韩硕炸毛了:woc!老娘不玩了!回去告诉老爷子,下回记得请技术含量低的人,不然爷玩不下去了!!!
  • 诸神密语

    诸神密语

    私人侦探顾子安一时兴起,接下了一个酬金丰厚的神秘委托,开始寻找一个据说有天眼的少年。当他踏上寻人之旅之后,发现事情并非如他料想得那样简单;而这个传说中的通灵少年,以及所谓的“神通力”也完全不是他所设想的那样……
  • 刀掌乾坤

    刀掌乾坤

    仙道渺茫,无尽真修!刀芒掠过,片甲不留!何谓正?何谓邪?被踩在脚下的便是邪!……此界只有两种人!鱼肉;刀俎!不想沦为鱼肉,那就拼了命去成为刀俎吧!PS:(恳请各位读者大大不要吝啬手中的收藏推荐,小弟叩谢!)
  • 独宠青梅:妖孽竹马么么哒

    独宠青梅:妖孽竹马么么哒

    冰陌凌父母双亡,还失去了记忆,那她这个假名字又是怎么回事?她这个未婚夫是真的是自己的吗?他唐若泽,本是和雪颖有婚约的,但他喜欢的是冰陌凌,雪颖的失踪使他和冰陌凌可以在一起。两人会怎么样?雪颖的出现他们两个会不会分开?【欢迎入坑!】
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 破晓龙魂

    破晓龙魂

    九州风云,千年莫测,曾有无上,今有孤傲,风断天命,龙掌时间。九州之巅,风清云淡,龙腾苍穹,曾有天心,今有半神,风固天心,龙具半神
  • 异能公主穿越之旅

    异能公主穿越之旅

    一朝穿越,一段旷世奇缘。那一年,他问她,可曾爱过他。他回答没有。那一年,她问他,可曾爱过她。他回答曾爱得死去活来,可现在不爱了。