麻豆传媒

鈥淔ATHER of modern physics 鈥� indeed, of modern science altogether.鈥� That is Albert Einstein鈥檚 verdict on Galileo Galilei. But you won鈥檛 find this quote in John Heilbron鈥檚 scholarly biography. Instead, his aim is to situate Galileo in the Florence, Rome and Venice of his day, rather than retread the well-beaten path of his historical significance to science.

Besides being a mathematician, physicist and inventor, Galileo was a notable philosopher, writer, musician and artist, who could recite vast stretches of Italian poetry by heart. It was the clarity of his exposition of the Copernican system of the planets in our solar system that got him into trouble with the Inquisition.

This year is the 400th anniversary of Galileo鈥檚 telescopic revelations about our moon and the four largest moons of Jupiter. Given another 400 years, concludes Heilbron, 鈥渢he church will recognise Galileo鈥檚 divine gifts鈥� and make him a saint鈥�.