Galileo

From Geography

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian born physicist, astronomer, mathematician and philosopher. He studied at the University of Pisa, where he later went on to become a Professor of Mathematics. He left shortly after to teach at the University of Padau as a Professor of geometry, mechanics and astronomy.

Galileo applied rational human thought in the pretext of scientific method to the understanding of the natural world. The term scientific humanism is a form of humanism typified by Galileo's mobilization of the human senses in the context of a supposedly objective and impirical method.

David Ley and Marwyn Samuels draw a clear distinction between the basic tenants of Renaissance humanism and those of scientific humanism which leads to them to condem as 'dehumanising' the science of Galileo.

References

• Cloke, P., Philo, Chr. & Sadler, D. (eds) (1991) Approaching Human Geography: An Introduction To Contemporary Theoretical Debates. Chapman, London. Chapter 3: Peopling human geography and the development of humanistic approaches. Pages 57-92.

Contributors

• Published by Catherine Hughes (s4172159)

• Page slightly enhanced by Iris van der Wal - 16:05, October 21st 2012