Describe what hindered Galileo and Descartes in their work?
Galileo and Descartes, two influential figures in the history of science and philosophy, faced different obstacles that hindered their work.
Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, mathematician, and astronomer, encountered resistance from the Catholic Church that hindered his scientific exploration. During the 17th century, the Church strongly adhered to a geocentric model of the universe, which stated that the Earth was at the center and the sun and other celestial bodies revolved around it. Galileo, however, supported the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus, which placed the sun at the center with the planets orbiting around it. This conflicted with Church doctrine and was considered heretical. Galileo's promotion of this idea brought him under scrutiny and eventually led to his trial by the Inquisition in 1633, where he was convicted of heresy and placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life. This hindered Galileo in openly pursuing his scientific research and hindered the dissemination of his ideas.
René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, encountered different hindrances in his work. Descartes' pursuit of scientific knowledge was primarily obstructed by the prevailing Aristotelian scholasticism of his time. The scholastic philosophers followed Aristotle's teachings unquestioningly and relied heavily on deductive reasoning. Descartes, on the other hand, sought a more rational approach to knowledge, emphasizing doubt, introspection, and observation-based deduction. The scholastic establishment was resistant to Descartes' radical ideas, challenging his departure from tradition and his skepticism. This hindered him in gaining acceptance for his groundbreaking philosophical and mathematical concepts, such as his famous dictum "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). Nonetheless, Descartes persevered and made significant contributions to philosophy, mathematics, and the development of modern science.
Both Galileo and Descartes faced considerable hindrances in their work, albeit stemming from different sources. Galileo struggled due to the Church's opposition to his heliocentric theory, while Descartes faced resistance from the scholastic establishment, which adhered to traditional Aristotelian thinking. Despite these obstacles, their work laid important foundations for modern scientific and philosophical thought.