[Fyron]

Originally posted by Chronon:
Fyron, I'm curious about your argument on this point. Aside from Galileo, did you have anyone else in mind? If you go by the meta-narrative presented by most textbooks of "Western Civ," the "Middle Ages" were over by the time of Galileo (1564-1642). The usual periodization has them come to a close with the Italian Renaissance (1350-1550). So, he's not the best example to support your argument.

The "church versus science" theme is still a very strong one in our perceptions of history, so I'm intrigued by your position, and would like to hear more of your argument.

Edit: I can't spell...

There are many examples, I just can't think of most of them at the moment. Copernicus' radical theory that the Sun was the center of the universe instead of the Earth was rejected by proponents of the Catholic Church, amonst other highly religious people of the times. Of course, the Church was not as adamant about burning all who questioned it at the stake as it was centuries prior. And as the Church was wrong about some of the most basic facts about the universe, people making scientific progress would naturally have to question some of the Church's claims (such as the Earth being the center of the universe).

[ March 07, 2003, 23:32: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]