Reading Nature’s Book
Galileo and the Birth of Modern Philosophy
Summary
Reading Nature’s Book provides contextual material for college and university students enrolled in modern philosophy courses, introducing them to ideas and concepts that dominated philosophical discussion during the era. Furthermore, students and scholars interested in the history of philosophy of science will also benefit from a decidedly philosophical approach to such a leading scientific figure. Many of the topics explored by Galileo continue to be of philosophical interest today, including scientific methodology and the relation between science and religion.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction: Galileo and Philosophy
- Chapter One: A Message from the Stars
- Chapter Two: A Dispute over Buoyancy
- Chapter Three: Inertia, Empiricism, and Spots on the Sun
- Chapter Four: Science and Religion
- Chapter Five: Troubles in Rome: 1615–1616
- Chapter Six: Mathematics and the Book of Nature
- Chapter Seven: Showdown
- Chapter Eight: Matter and Motion
- Bibliography
- Index
← viii | ix →Acknowledgments
Work on this book was made possible by a Hendrix College Odyssey Professorship established by Morriss and Ann Henry. My thanks to both the Henrys and Hendrix. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to the Marshall T. Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy for supporting my research.
I would also like to recognize and thank several people who helped me while I was writing this book. Lance Richey and Chris Campolo each read an early draft of Chapter One and encouraged me to undertake this project. Aaron Simmons read and commented on drafts of Chapters One through Five. John Sanders did the same with Chapters Four and Five. Zvi Biener and David Marshall Miller were both very kind to provide invaluable suggestions and corrections on Chapters One, Seven, and Eight. Michelle Salyga and Jackie Pavlovic at Peter Lang were wonderful to work with. And on several occasions, Damon Spayde was kind enough to take the time to answer my physics questions.
My colleague in the Physics Department at Hendrix, Ann Wright, has been both a conversation partner and teaching partner regarding all things Galileo. I would also like to thank the students in my Galileo seminar in the fall of 2012, especially Ashley Lyman.
← ix | x →Parts of Chapters Four and Five appeared in “Heretics Everywhere: On the Continuing Relevance of Galileo to the Philosophy of Religion,” Philosophy and Theology 22 (Spring–Summer 2010): 49–76. I am grateful to the journal for permission to re-print that material here.
Finally, I dedicate this book to my wife, Susan, for her love, support, and patience.
Conway, Arkansas
March 2015
← x | xi →Abbreviations
The following is a list of Galileo’s writings cited in the text and notes.
← xii | 1 →Introduction: Galileo and Philosophy
Galileo was a powerful, passionate figure, a man who dominated every room and every discussion he entered. His excitement over the new world he saw opening up, and his blistering intolerance of those who would not see it as he did, break through in every page of his writings. These are infectious qualities, especially when joined with the gaiety and enormous vitality of a man who treasured every moment of his life.
—ERNAN MCMULLIN 1967, P. 3
Details
- Pages
- X, 96
- Year
- 2016
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9781453916315
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9781454189237
- ISBN (MOBI)
- 9781454189220
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9781433131356
- DOI
- 10.3726/978-1-4539-1631-5
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2015 (November)
- Keywords
- Galilei Medici Philosophy
- Published
- New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, Oxford, Wien, 2016. X, 96 pp.
