[Courtney Knapp]
Three hundred and seventy eight years ago today, the Roman Inquisition forced Galileo Galilei to recant his heliocentric views as written in Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. Galileo spent the rest of his life under house arrest and died in 1642.
Unsurprisingly, the Catholic Church wasn't ready for Galileo's
controversial views but Galileo famously complained that even other
scientists and philosophers who opposed his discoveries refused to look
through his telescopes.
It took the Catholic Church 359 years to correct their mistake. In 1992, Pope John Paul II vindicated Galileo and in 2000 a formal apology was issued by the church. Scientists were quicker to realize their mistake.
Now for the fun: Who (or what) do you think history will be apologizing to in the future? Alternatively, who are your favorite heretics?
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