No Exemptions

Galileo’s “Dialogue” discusses in great detail the factual basis of Aristotle’s texts, and other texts including Copernicus and Ptolemaic. However, even though scientific arguments dominate most of the Dialogue, I believe the point of the text is found almost immediately after Sagredo quotes a philosopher in the beginning of the exchange. “You have made me see this matter so plainly and palpably that if Aristotle’s text were not contrary to it…I should be forced to admit it to be true”(2). After this, Simplicio comments that Aristotle’s texts are so widely accepted do to “the strength of his proofs and the profundity of his arguments”(2). However, Sagredo and Salviati proceed to explain that just because a text is widely accepted does not mean that throughout the course of time, logic and reason can expand and even correct the initial theories, and in this case involving Aristotle’s hypothesis on the motion of the Earth. Salviati even proposes that had Aristotle been presented with the new theories that contradict his own texts, then Aristotle, assuming he be the logical man his texts suggest, would accept what is now being proven as truth. In effect, I believe that Galileo’s point that widely accepted doctrines are not exempt from correction is very clearly made, especially in the end of the Dialogue in which Simplicio accepts that the Earth is in motion, despite the contradiction to Aristotle.