From Religion vs. Science to Science vs. Religion: McMullin on the Church and Galileo

Document Type

Book Section

Publication Date

8-29-2021

Publication Title

Science, Method, and Argument in Galileo

Publisher

Springer, Cham

Publisher Location

Cham, Switzerland

Volume

40

First page number:

285

Last page number:

306

Abstract

This essay is a critical examination of the volume The Church and Galileo (2005), edited by Ernan McMullin and containing thirteen contributions by various scholars. I provide a description of the origin and content of the volume, and a brief account of its minor blemishes. I then focus on two issues stressed by McMullin, reflected in the book’s title, and discussed in his editorial introduction. One is the issue of the similarities and differences between the original trial of Galileo (which can be characterized in terms of the Church’s persecution of a scientist) and the subsequent and continuing controversy about it (which can be characterized in terms of science’s criticism of the Church); the other issue is the so-called rehabilitation of Galileo by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1979–1992. Although I give McMullin and other contributors credit for calling attention to these two issues and for some sound suggestions, I argue that much more remains to be done, and I undertake to sketch a satisfactory account.

Controlled Subject

Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642; Reviews; Religion and science

Disciplines

Philosophy | Philosophy of Science | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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