Galileo

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) pronounced '[t]he process against Galileo' to have been 'reasonable and just.' Well mayber. Minimally, the 'process' 1616, belongs to a succession of trials (of Socrates, of Christ, of John Brown and of Sophie Scholl) easily reviled. And to a debate over modes of proof: endorsing the big bang over Hoyle's steady state, Pius XII deduced, 'therefore, there is a creator, therefore, God exists.' Using films (Galileo, 1975, adapting the Brecht play) cases (Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Nike, Inc v. Kasky), evidentiary precepts (the Copernican Principle; Hume's Fork), the course situates Galileo, Cardinal Bellarmine (Galileo's admonitor), and the 'process' itself in historical, scientific, philosophic, and jurisprudential contexts. Eppur si muove; maybe not.

Course Schedule

  • Date: Friday 10:30-12:30AM
  • Location: Chase 210

Course Information

  • Catalog number-Section number: 859-01
  • Course Type: Lecture
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Credits (min/max): 2/2
  • Subjects:

Enrollment

  • Enrollment status: Closed
  • Current enrollment/capacity: 18/18
  • Reserve population/capacity: 0/0
  • Waitlist enrollment/capacity: 2/20

Grading

  • Grade basis: Graded
  • Satisifies Writing Requirement: No
  • Exam type: TAKE HOME