Galileo and Darwin

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the discoveries of two famous men, Galilei Galileo and Charles Darwin, and compares the way in which their respective ideas were accepted in their ages of discovery. It discusses how Galileo's discovery of the telescope and subsequent proving of the solar system's existence, led him to be branded as a heretic. The paper shows how Charles Darwin's 19th Century book "On the Origin of Species" also caused him to be labeled a heretic, especially when he related his theory to the evolution of man. The paper shows how both Galileo and Darwin undermined the Catholic church and in the face of enormous obstacles, eventually led people to accept their theories.

From the Paper:

Galileo Galilei once said, " All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." Contrary to his thoughts, however, all truths are not easy to understand, and some are even harder to sustain. Upon his development of the telescope in 1609 Galileo was able to present empirical evidence to prove Copernicus' heliocentric view of the solar system. Regardless of his evidence Galileo met the same fate as his precursor as his findings were cast aside and he was labeled as a heretic."

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