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The "question Galileo in physics textbooks

It amazes me how in some physics textbooks for high school the "question of Galileo, although not a lot to do with the teaching of physics, not only continues to resurface, but is presented with a number of ideological distortions and historical inaccuracies.

also strikes me that these books will show only the scientist Galileo relations with the Church, which are considered as Legendary stormy, but rarely are references to the lives of other scientists, and never refers to their spirituality or their relationship with the Church. Only with Galileo we talk about the relationship between science and faith, and in a distorted way.

What these books show Galileo is almost always the version told in a work drama, "Life of Galileo" by Bertold Brecht. It is therefore an intellectual, literary character, and without historical foundation. Today we would say, reading this work, that "the reference to people and events is purely coincidental." In fact, the history has shown clearly that what is imagined in this comedy does not follow the criteria of historical fiction and indeed openly pursuing ideological goals of Marxist propaganda.

For those wishing to deepen, it is illuminating the dossier "The Galileo Affair", Rino Camilleri, published in the series "The Notebooks of Timon" and ordered online.

The article summarizes the study of several sources, appearing in popular form.

Among other things it is understood that, in contrast with the Galileo affair, are now clear following points:

• Galileo was never tortured by the Inquisition, was not even imprisoned nor killed (thus can not technically be called " martyr ");
• at the time, the strongest opposition to Galileo and the Copernican theory, including the accusation of heresy, were placed by the Accademia dei Lincei, ie lay members.
  was they, for example, in the person of Cremonini, refusing to look into the telescope.
  Dai religious Galileo received appreciation and support, especially by many Jesuits.
• their relationship was good with almost all men of faith, including prominent clerics: see, for example, the same Pope Urban VIII (Simplicio ridiculed by Galileo in the "Speeches"), that Galileo had tremendous admiration.
• representatives of the Catholic Church and Galileo supported the heliocentric theory until the scientist did not support it publicly, so exaggerated, that the truth of that theory would necessarily entail a revision of the canon of scripture. And all for a theory which, remember, was not tested experimentally.
  This is equivalent to replace the Magisterium of the Catholic Church with the new Science, which was all to be defined.
• the so-called "condemnation of heresy" was not given to Galileo, but the Copernican theory as a theory certain, for theological impact (erroneous) that were also assigned to it by Galileo himself. It was declared a heretic Galileo in full (and the scientist was not burnt as a sorcerer).
• not you ever notice that the Church will withdraw the condemnation of the Copernican theory heresy in 1754. Better late than never, considering that at that time still outstanding scientists believed the mistaken (Poincaré between them).
• the limitation of freedom of Galileo, which is unacceptable in principle today, was to exile in Siena in a residence where he lived in the same Bishop (not in a prison) and after a few months he was also obliged to riturato confinement. He always had such a chance to meet anyone who went to see him, as well as writing, studying, ...
• if it is unacceptable for us today, the confinement of a scientist by the religious, not ever bring the following mitigating factors:
  - the religious authority was at once too political authority, and should be judged by the yardstick which we judge the political authorities, especially those of time
  - supporters of the Copernican theory, in Protestant countries like Switzerland, were persecuted with the pillory (according to the Protestant principle that "only writing" is a source of truth "
  - from point of view of modern science, mixing scientific results to theological statements is not considered proper - indeed, not scientific (in the sense that theological statements are worthy of great attention must be paid in places and with the tools of theological science).
• Galileo never took tests of the accuracy of the Copernican theory.
  E 'some doubt that his comments made obsolete the Ptolemaic:
  was not so obvious, if not a principle of symmetry (abstract, non-experimental), that the Earth revolved around the Sun

Let us see what are the books that address the issue in a non-exact Galileo:

1. in Physics - the first two years "of hostile Parodi (ed. LINX 2011), reads:
   " the great Italian scientist was considered a martyr of free thought (!!!) and was the symbol of struggle of reason against obscurantism, superstition and intolerance "
   
   This is a book for students of upper first high school science. With which students can assimilate a critical statement so hasty?
2. The Caforio-Ferilli, book of reference for many generations, can not stay away dall'invettiva ideological.
   In the introductory paragraph on the motion of planets (2004 edition, p. 399 of Volume 1), having presented the geocentric and the heliocentric theory, we read:
   "The dispute between the supporters of the two theories became more and more heated, especially where the use of Galileo in support of the heliocentric theory, aimed to convince the leaders of the Catholic Church to accept and propaganda, had the opposite effect ... "
   
   It is said that members of the Catholic Church and Galileo supported the heliocentric theory, at least until the scientist claimed publicly that this was supposed to lead to a revision of the canon of scripture, and that this statement led to the conviction in full (unfortunately) the Copernican theory.

instead Galileo is mentioned only for its scientific merits, like all other scientists in many other textbooks.

Among them we mention:

• Amaldi, in all editions, of every age and grade
• Walker "Physics" (and LINX 2010) - various issues. E 'considered a highly successful textbook, which has been able to update in a surprising way in physics education in Italy, having been successful in the United States.
• Marazzini-Bergamaschini-Mazzoni (several editions, and the most recent year for two years: "Phenomena, experiment, read", ed. Minerva School)
• In general, almost all texts of Anglo-Saxon origin show no interest in political and theological controversies of Galileo, as well as those of any other scientist.

may perhaps be thought, since as recently as this:

In 2009 the Association for the Teaching of Physics "held a conference on" The Legacy of Galileo, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the publication of Starry Messenger.

However, as can be seen from the conference proceedings, none of the interventions was taken into account the personal story of Galileo: a further proof that this is not that made Galileo a Great Science.