Wow, this is a remarkable claim. Do you have any evidence to
support it?
Aristotle was a teleologist and anti-evolutionist. Yes, there
were evolutionists even in Aristotle's day :). The most prominant
evolutionist of the day was one Empedocles, who was vigorously
opposed by Aristotle. Empedocles views, according to Asma [**],
were "...so similar, in spirit, with our Darwinian Paradigm."
One of the most important differences between the Aristoteleans
and the scientists of today is the Aristoteleans reliance on
authority. "Aristotle said it, I believe it, that settles it." :-)
The Aristoteleans of Galileos day were unquestionably teleologists
and anti-evolutionists.
[**] Stephen Asma, <Following Form and Function: A Philosophical
Archaeology of Life Science>, Northwestern University Press,
1996, p. 30.
Andrew:==
>These
>are people who twisted the scripture to fit man-made myths and the same
>people use the power of the state to oppress ideological opposition.
>
Yes, this seems to be the case, at least for some Aristoteleans
anyway. But they were Creationists. There actions seem to me
directly analogous to the approach taken by many YEC's today.
Andrew:==
>Just to jog your memory, the Bible was banned in the classroom in the
>Holy Roman Empire.
>
I don't know what your point is. First, you have provided no
evidence that the Bible was banned from classrooms in Galileo's
day. Second you provide no argument as to why this (supposing
it were true) has anything to do with Galileo's observation in the
quote I gave. If the Bible were used in the classroom then there
seems no reason to doubt that it would be used to promote
anti-Copernicanism.
The issue with Galileo was largely over interpretation of
scripture (as attested in the quote above) and, from Galileo's
point of view, the church being so foolish as to try to establish
currently fashionable scientific views (Aristotelean Physics) as
church dogma. There is a remarkable note added by Galileo to a
preliminary copy of <Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems>
[this is the book that got Galileo in so much trouble]:
"Take note, theologians, that in your desire to make
matters of faith out of propositions relating to the
fixity of sun and earth you run the risk of eventually
having to condemn as heretics those who would declare
the earth to stand still and the sun to change position--
eventually, I say, at such a time as it might be physically
or logically proved that the earth moves and the sun stands
still." -- Galileo
This quote takes on new meaning for me after having my
salvation called into question based upon my scientific
views.
Another fellow who got himself into trouble over Copernicus
was Kepler. He offered some good advice that you may want
to consider:
===============================================================
If someone is so dumb that he cannot grasp the science of
astronomy, or so weak that he cannot believe Copernicus without
offending his piety, I advise him to mind his own business,
to quit this worldly pursuit, to stay at home and cultivate his
own garden, and when he turns his eyes toward the visible heavens
(the only way he sees them), let him with his whole heart pour
forth praise and gratitude to God the Creator. Let him assure
himself that he is serving God no less than the astronomer to
whom God has granted the privelege of seeing more clearly with
the eyes of the mind.
-- Johannes Kepler, as quoted by Owen Gingerich in "Dare a Scientist
Believe in Design," in _Evidence of Purpose_, J.M. Templeton,
ed., Continuum, New York, 1994, p.28.
=================================================================
Brian Harper
Associate Professor
Applied Mechanics
The Ohio State University
"It appears to me that this author is asking
much less than what you are refusing to answer"
-- Galileo (as Simplicio in _The Dialogue_)