The Essential Galileo
"Finocchiaro's new and revised translations have done what the Inquisition could not: they have captured an exceptional range of Galileo's career while also letting him speak—in clear English. No other volume offers more convenient or more reliable access to Galileo's own words, whether on the telescope, the Dialogue, the trial, or the mature theory of motion." —Michael H. Shank, University of Wisconsin–Madison
"Edited and translated by Maurice A. Finocchiaro, an international authority on Galileo, this collection makes available to scholars and students an excellent and extensive selection of Galileo's key works from his early career to the end of his life—some in toto and some represented by key selections. It presents not only Galileo's most famous works but also a range of less-known texts as well as an excellent selection of the documents from the trial of 1633 and from the 1616 condemnation of Copernicus. In addition to the breadth and quality of the selections, this volume is particularly attractive to students and instructors thanks to Finocchiaro's expert and up-to-date introductions, biographical sketch, chronology, annotated bibliography, and glossary. This is a must for anyone teaching or studying Galileo, the scientific revolution, and the relationship between science and religion." —Mario Biagioli, Harvard University
SKU
26727g
eBook available for $12.95. Click HERE for more information.
"Finocchiaro's new and revised translations have done what the Inquisition could not: they have captured an exceptional range of Galileo's career while also letting him speak—in clear English. No other volume offers more convenient or more reliable access to Galileo's own words, whether on the telescope, the Dialogue, the trial, or the mature theory of motion."
—Michael H. Shank, Professor of the History of Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
"Edited and translated by Maurice A. Finocchiaro, an international authority on Galileo, this collection makes available to scholars and students an excellent and extensive selection of Galileo's key works from his early career to the end of his life—some in toto and some represented by key selections. It presents not only Galileo's most famous works but also a range of less-known texts as well as an excellent selection of the documents from the trial of 1633 and from the 1616 condemnation of Copernicus.
"In addition to the breadth and quality of the selections, this volume is particularly attractive to students and instructors thanks to Finocchiaro's expert and up-to-date introductions, biographical sketch, chronology, annotated bibliography, and glossary. This is a must for anyone teaching or studying Galileo, the scientific revolution, and the relationship between science and religion."
—Mario Biagioli, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University
"This skillful selection from Galileo's writings has something of the adventure story about it, as Galileo explores the skies in a way no one had done before and propounds a radical reorganization of the cosmos in consequence, defends himself from the accusation by the Church that his view contravenes Scripture but is condemned and forced to abjure, and returns finally in old age to publish a work that will not only set mechanics on a new path but will transform the very way in which the deeper knowledge of nature is to be found. Strongly recommended."
—Ernan McMullin, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame
"A really excellent set of selections from Galileo, filling in a real need in the market."
—Robert Goulding, University of Notre Dame
"This book works very well for an undergraduate audience. I also appreciated the fact that Finocchiaro kept his comments on Galileo's texts to a minimum to allow students to interact with the primary documents on their own terms. The introduction to the text also worked well; providing important information without being overbearing for the students. I will definitely continue to use this work in the future."
—Nahyan Fancy, Depauw University
"An excellent collection and translation of Galileo's works. The translations are eminently comprehensible. The introduction is solid, careful, and contains just the right amount of information, neither too little nor too much. Text is attractive and very legible."
—John Norris, University of Dallas
Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgments.
Introduction: Galileo's Legacy, Life, and Works.
Chronology of Galileo's Career and Aftermath.
Glossary of Terms and Names.
Annotated Bibliography and Cited Works.
Chapter 1: The Sidereal Messenger (1610).
Chapter 2: From Discourse on Bodies in Water (1612):
§2.1 Shape vs. Density in Floating and Sinking.
Chapter 3: From History and Demonstrations Concerning Sunspots (1613):
§3.1 Solar Rotation and Indifferent Motion.
§3.2 Heavenly Changes and Aristotelian Empiricism.
§3.3 Knowing Properties vs. Knowing Essences.
Chapter 4: Letters on Copernicanism and Scripture (1613-1615):
§4.1 Letter to Castelli (1613).
§4.2 Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina (1615).
Chapter 5: Reply to Cardinal Bellarmine (1615):
§5.1 Cardinal Bellarmine's Letter to Foscarini.
§5.2 Galileo's Considerations on the Copernican Opinion, Part I.
§5.3 Galileo's Considerations on the Copernican Opinion, Part II.
§5.4 Galileo's Considerations on the Copernican Opinion, Part III.
Chapter 6: From the Earlier Trial-Documents (1613-1616):
§6.1 Lorini's Complaint (7 February 1615).
§6.2 Caccini's Deposition (20 March 1615).
§6.3 Special Injunction (26 February 1616).
§6.4 Decree of the Index (5 March 1616).
§6.5 Cardinal Bellarmine's Certificate (26 May 1616).
Chapter 7: From The Assayer (1623):
§7.1 Comets, Tycho, and the Book of Nature in Mathematical Language.
§7.2 Heat, Atoms, and Primary vs. Secondary Qualities.
Chapter 8: From Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems (1632):
§8.1 Preface: To the Discerning Reader.
§8.2 Day II: Independent-mindedness and Aristotle's Authority.
§8.3 Day II: Diurnal Rotation, Simplicity, and Probability.
§8.4 Day II: The Case against Terrestrial Rotation and the Value of Critical Reasoning.
§8.5 Day II: Vertical Fall, Conservation of Motion, and the Role of Experiments.
§8.6 Day III: Heliocentrism and the Role of the Telescope.
§8.7 Day IV: The Cause of the Tides and the Inescapability of Error.
§8.8 Day IV: Ending.
Chapter 9: From the Later Trial-Documents (1632-1633):
§9.1 Special Commission's Report on the Dialogue (September 1632).
§9.2 Galileo's First Deposition (12 April 1633).
§9.3 Galileo's Second Deposition (30 April 1633).
§9.4 Galileo's Third Deposition (10 May 1633).
§9.5 Galileo's Defense (10 May 1633).
§9.6 Galileo's Fourth Deposition (21 June 1633).
§9.7 Inquisition's Sentence (22 June 1633).
§9.8 Galileo's Abjuration (22 June 1633).
Chapter 10: From Two New Sciences (1638):
§10.1 Day I: The Problem of Scaling.
§10.2 Day I: Critique of Aristotle's Law of Fall.
§10.3 Day I: The Pendulum.
§10.4 Day II: The Mathematics of Strength, Size, and Weight.
§10.5 Day III: A New Science of Motion.
§10.6 Day III: Definition of Uniform Acceleration.
§10.7 Day III: Laws of Falling Bodies.
§10.8 Day IV: The Parabolic Path of Projectiles.
Index.
About the Author:
Maurice A. Finocchiaro is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
