Module II, Part IV Western Scientific Ways
During Galileo’s time everyone believed that the Earth was an un-moving center for the universe. The first person to challenge this theory was Capernicus.
Nicholas Capernicus believed that the Earth revolved around the sun. This was 60 years before the telescope was invented. He was pretty much the laughing stock of that era since the majority of the people believed if that was then all living things on Earth would be effected; birds would be flying erratically and church steeples would be falling down.
One person who agreed with Capernicus was Galileo. Galileo was adamant that he needed a demonstration because he believed that demonstration was the mark of science. If his belief was not able to be demonstrated, then it could be seen as an opinion.
Benedetto Castelli came up with an example of a demonstration. He asked Galileo if he could use his telescope to view Venus over a period of time and record its changes; what month is it crescent shaped? At what month is it disk shaped? If Venus has the same aspects as the moon, that that would mean both planets are revolving around the Earth and that would explain the changes of the two planets. Galileo helped to demonstrate that everything is connected by visual proof.
On the other hand, indigenous people believed that the creation of the universe was by an act of a diety. This diety did not have to be demonstrated in order to be believed unlike the Western Scientific Ways.
Traditional knowledge can sometime’s become an obstacle to better understanding if we are not willing to open up to a new perspective. Galileo was willing to understand and listen to Capernicus’ belief and therefore discovered that we had a Heliocentric planetary system. Galileo was able to open up others to a new perspective by writing a book by comparing and contrasting the two views of either the Earth being the center of the universe, or the Earth being one of the planets revolving around the sun. When we are close minded, it makes it harder for us to advance emotionally, personally, or intellectually.
