Galileo was one of history’s greatest weasel butts.

That said this week was his birthday, February 15, 1564 and with the abundance of weasel butts that currently roam the face of the earth, mostly in DC, he would fit right in, so happy birthday Galileo, you big wimp.

How is Galileo a "weasel butt?"

1633: The Church, alarmed by the best-selling status of Galileo's book, puts Galileo on trial. Threatened with torture, Galileo recants his support of Copernicus, and spends the rest of his life under house arrest.

He publicly recanted. . .privately continued his work.

If we say, "hey, that's not right for the government to spy on Americans" only behind closed doors, then we are not really taking a stand are we?

Galileo still worked under house arrest. If he didn't, I would say yes, you're right. But he continued and his findings were published after he died.

Faced with thumb screws and iron maidens, Galileo recanted. If he didn't recant and was tortured, then recanted, what would you say?

Stop drumming up contraversy!

these days... :eyes:

If I was confronted with certain death, and if my death would have NO effect... I would probably choose not to be tortured as well, hoping that my work would stand on its own. Oh yeah... his did.

I suppose Thomas Jefferson was a wimp too?

He knew history and science would vindicate him, so why should he have risked torture and death? It would have changed NOTHING!

I think on the White Rose.

I doubt you would choose the rack. Its awful easy to say what you would do if wern't in his shoes.

"What would you do in his place?"

Well he has already shown what he would do - nothing like the courage of being able to criticize someone for not facing up to torture from the security of an anonymous alias with a disabled profile on electronic message board. Truly a profile in courage...

executed. They also liked to torture people.

nt

System. Galileo knew the Earth went round the Sun.

I do believe it was Galileo who said, The Church says the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen its shadow on the Moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than I have in the Church.

Something like that.

Edit for syntax.

every learned person in the Middle Ages knew that the Earth is round....The issue was Ptolemiac (Earth-centered) vs. Copernican (Sun-centered)

"The Church says the Earth is flat. But I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the Moon. And I have more faith in a shadow than in the Church." Magellan http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_quotes.htm almost at bottom of page.

Thought I remembered it well enough not to Google it, which was true, if I'd remembered who said it in the first place......

Been wanting to quote that quote for years, though, and finally did......:dunce:

edit to add link.

See also galileo's remark to his inquisitors "Eppur si muove!" There is a well-known military concept called strategic withdrawal. Outright defiance would probably have led to his death which would surely have cut off any future contributions to our body of knowledge he might have made.I have no problem with him having chosen the wiser course.

Edited to correct the concept stated before the military historians here rightfully jumped me I stated strategic retreat where the correct terminology is strategic withdrawal breaking contact with the opposing force so as to consolidate, and if possible strengthen and improve ones position. Retreat is another matter entirely.Galileo had nothing to gain and probably everything to lose by continuing outright defiance.Comes to that weasels are excellent survivors in unforgiving environments.

For some reason this post made me laugh. Galileo really was a wimp. He publically recanted his heliocentric theory in front of the Pope, but muttered "it still moves" as he left. Big deal. If the earth really moves around the sun, just stand up & say it! Of course, there was the whole torture/Inquisition issue, so it's hard to fault him; but kind of hard to admire him either.

by Bertolt Brecht with scene opening choruses and Inquisitors and his lovely daughter and all kinds of things!

It consists largely of letters his daughter (a cloistered nun) sent to Galileo. His letters evidently haven't survived, but through her letters to him a portrait is slowly painted of a thoughtful, caring and supremely loving father.

what you would recant if face with being tortured and then burned to death. He did what was important, which was to widely spread, in the form of a popular satire of Church teaching, the latest scientific theories. He could recant knowing that what he had written would continue on without him.

Do we stand or do we go along. Of course I would like to say that I would stand, but I have not been tested. At least not with torture and burning. If that time comes I hope that I have the courage of that teenage German girl who stood against Hitler. Now there was a hero.

I suppose we all need to evaluate our potential. It is so much easier to go along, just keep your head down and survive if possible.

Heisenberg. Heisenberg averred that, if ever put to the test, he would not recant scientific truth a la Galileo, but would stand fast like Giordano Bruno. Einstein said, in essence, "You're nuts" because scientific truth stands or falls independently of totalitarian will. On the other hand, one must stand up for human values--that is a totally different thing than going to the stake for scientific truth.

Then how much easier is it for you to take the next step until you find that you are rationalizing horrendous acts of tyranny.

Tyranny does not stop, it grows stronger as the population acquiesces to each new demand.

Especially given the fact that Heisenberg remained in Nazi Germany and later worked on the German nuclear program. What exactly did he stand up for? Even under the best interpretation of his motives it can be said that he took Galileo's way out.

movement. They took almost the exact opposite stands than they said they would. It is interesting.

One thing though, he was way ahead of his time.

which inspires people to think several hundred years after the maggots have stripped away the dross.

500 years ago for a change! Fuck him and his "scientific discoveries!" He's a freeper!

It is reflecting upon what our response to tyranny would be, at least speculation on our response. Everyday we are faced with making that choice, in the workplace, in social settings, do we stand for the things we write here in the safety of DU, or do we stand with the results that might follow.

Simply railing against the situation, which we all agree is bad and not getting better, must soon come to a end. Then we will be required to take an action. With every action there is consequence, hopefully not the same as Galileo’s choice, but some consequence, maybe the loss of a job, friends, financial hardships. Those would be minor compared to what many people have faced in pursuit of liberty and freedom.

That is why in my mind discussions about something that happened long ago is important.

It's sort of a silly thread, but I like the way you've stated the real issue. When it comes right down to it, would we be a Bruno or a Galileo? Would we be willing to stand by our ideals or bow to political pressure? It's hard to tell until you've been put in that position. Sometimes people who scream the loudest are the first to give up, while those who observe things quietly are the first to stand up. No one can tell how they will react; but looking at history, it's encouraging that there are always those people willing to stand up, whatever the consequences.

who refused to recant and he thought hmmm, that looks painful and dangerous.

Circumstances

That is very pertinent. Galileo was faced with challenging the greatest force on earth, at least in his world. His choice, stand by what he in his heart felt was the truth and dying for that stand, or, recanting and living.

At this juncture of history we each may also face a choice of truth in the face of tyranny. How many of us do you suppose that daily go along with some bullshit because we need our job, our position or standing. In a way we face Galileo’s choice everyday.

Is that why you aren't posting on this political website under your full, real name and don't have a profile with any personal information whatsoever?

Your response to tyranny is interesting, to say the least. At least we know who Gallileo was. Who are you?

Galileo was a "weasel butt?" Huh...how do you feel about the drafters of the Magna Carta?

the stake in 1600 was still prety fresh. And the issue is much more involved than Galileo knew the truth but was afraid to speak it. And he was 70, back before the Germ Theory was understood, when he recanted give him a break!

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard.

:rofl:

and check out the 15th century versions of waterboarding.

except they used hot lead, not water.

I'm with Galileo, and God bless him, and God Damn the pope, and
the church, for taking 400 years to apologize.

future. Are you really willing to die horribly for your honor? Personally I'm with Galileo. If your that fucking stupid why should I die for you?

No, no. It was self-censorship to avoid hurting others' sensibilities, and to avoid the inevitable, and fully justifiable consequences, of the lack of self-censorship. Of course, those that engaged in torture were in no way good Catholics.

Sigh.

He wimped out, but for a good purpose. Better silenced and pursuing your research than dead and, well, dead. His is one case where shutting up in public--since not shutting up would lead to essentially the same results--is the better option.