Description

• Title:
  Galileo, Copernicus, and the Tides
• Creator:
  Pitt, Joseph C.
• Description:
  Galileo’s endorsement of Copernicus’ helio-centric theory of the struc­ture of the universe presents a good test of two popular views about scientific methodology: (1) scientists prefer a theory which can solve problems it was not invented to solve. And (2) scientists prefer a theory which can solve problems not solved by its predecessor. Let us call (1) the Accidental Thesis (AL) and (2) the Predecessor Thesis (PL). Where Galileo is concerned, both AL and PL are supportable in varying degrees depending on some qualifications. The story shows that the problem Galileo sought to solve, the ebbing and flowing of the seas, i.e. the tides, required the motions of the earth dictated by Copernicus’ theory but denied in Ptolemaic theory. Before dealing with the specific theses, two issues need to be addressed. (1) Why this particular case was picked to illuminate the issue of theory appraisal, and (2) the status of Coper­nicus’ view. Following the discussion of these issues we will examine the development of Galileo’s account of the tides. This will leave us with our final question: why did Galileo choose the particular theory of the tides he defended?
• Object availability:
  free access
• Rights:
  Prawa autorskie (c) 2017 Theoria et Historia Scientiarum
• Date:
  2007.01.02
• Type:
  info:eu-repo/semantics/article;
  info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
• Language:
  English
• Source:
  Theoria et Historia Scientiarum; Vol. 1 (1991); 83-93;
  Theoria et Historia Scientiarum; Tom 1 (1991); 83-93;
  2392-1196;
  0867-4159
• Format:
  application/pdf
• Publisher:
  Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
• Relation: https://apcz.umk.pl/THS/article/view/ths.1991.007/13494
• Subject:
  Galileo;
  Copernicus;
  Copernican system
• Identifier: https://apcz.umk.pl/THS/article/view/ths.1991.007
• Data provider:
  Akademicka Platforma Czasopism
• Can I use it?:
  seek permission
• Type:
  text