A Defense of Galileo

We see that these arguments are false, arising from a lack of knowledge in mathematics and cosmography the study of the general features of the universe, including both geography and astronomy; and for that reason, the Scriptures are also twisted. Just as the opinion of St. Thomas is found to be false—namely, that there is no human habitation beneath the equinoctial the Equator—and this likewise due to a lack of knowledge in physiology and geography and out of a zeal for Aristotle, whom he wished to believe more than the arguments of Albert the Great St. Albertus Magnus, Thomas's teacher and a scientist-theologian and Avicenna: so too, with the same zeal for the Scriptures, St. Ephrem, Anastasius Sinaita, and Moses, the Syrian bishops, placed the earthly paradise in the entire other hemisphere. They claimed that those four rivers of paradise and such many, great trees could not exist except in a very large space. Nevertheless, it is now clear from the testimony of sailors that they were deceived. We have said rightly, therefore, that without science, even a saint cannot judge correctly.

Hence, St. Thomas, in his short work Against Those Who Attack Religion, chapter 11, because they were philosophizing, cites a gloss a marginal commentary on a text upon Daniel 1, which says: If anyone unskilled in this art writes against mathematicians, or being void of philosophy acts against philosophers, who would not laugh at him, or find him laughable? And the Comic poet Terence, in his play The Brothers says of such a judge:

The Second Hypothesis.

There are six things which a judge of these questions ought to know, so that he may be able to judge correctly.

First, that philosophy concerning celestial and lower things is necessary for the speculative theologian who must dispute against sectarians referring to those who break away from the established Church, particularly Protestants in this period.

Second, that the science of the heavens has not yet been perfected by philosophers.

Third, that neither the holy Moses nor the Lord Jesus revealed physiology and astronomy to us, but instead God handed over the world to the disputes of men (Ecclesiastes 1) Campanella refers to Ecclesiastes 3:11, where God sets the world in the hearts of men, so that they might perceive the invisible things of God through the things that were made, being understood (Romans 2) Actually Romans 1:20; rather, they taught us how to live blessedly and the supernatural dogmas for which nature was not sufficient.

Fourth, that whoever forbids Christians the study of philosophy and scien-