Galileo Galilei: 15 February 1564–8 January 1642
Occurrences during Galileo’s life:
The Thirty Years’ War began in 1618 and was fought throughout Europe largely because of religious turmoil between Catholics and Protestants. The war was noteworthy because it was so destructive and long-lasting, and therefore had a large impact on European culture as a whole.
Rene Descartes published Discourse on Method in 1637, toward the end of Galileo’s life. Descartes’s treatise outlines rationalism as an alternative philosophy to the prevailing empiricism of the time that has been presented by philosophers like John Locke. Descartes’s theme of rational intuition as the most reliable means of attaining knowledge is still pervasive in modern conversations about epistemology.
Another famous figure of the time:
William Shakespeare also lived at the same time as Galileo–he was born (historians guess) 26 April 1564 and died 23 April 1616. Shakespeare, of course, is renowned for the literature he produced, including the famous plays Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and so on.
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Taking a closer look at the historical context of the lives of so many influential astronomers helps create a backdrop for thinking about science at this time. All these astronomers lived during the Enlightenment, and of course, the list of influential figures alive during that era doesn’t stop at astronomers–to know that Descartes, Shakespeare, and countless others were all producing their finest work in the same cultural climate. It’s really fascinating to think about the sheer quantity of groundbreaking ideas and theories that were being simultaneously produced. I also wonder how much each of these individual scientists and thinkers benefited from having so many intellectual equals around them–it seems utopian, almost, for all these genius thinkers to have so many other engaged people to discuss their ideas with!
astrdylan 