The figure of Christoph Scheiner, Jesuit mathematician and astronomer, Galileo's opponent in a heated controversy over sunspots, is of considerable interest not only in reconstructing an important chapter in Galileo's biography, but also in relation to understanding the scientific debate that went on within the Society of Jesus. In this sense, the analysis of a manuscript commentary to 'De caelo', commonly attributed to Scheiner, clearly presents the resistance within the Order that accompanied the innovations Scheiner proposed regarding the layout and nature of the heavens. Indeed, this manuscript commentary to 'De caelo' maintained the traditional view of solid celestial orbs and blamed Scheiner for his supporting the new theory of fluidity of heavens. Therefore the commentary cannot be attributed to the Jesuit mathematician, who just represented an important target for polemics. By means of a comparison with coeval works by Jesuit philosophers and theologians from the College of Ingolstadt, we are led to conclude that the author of the commentary incorrectly attributed to Scheiner, should instead be recognized in his fellow Jesuit, Simon Felix.
Aristotelismo e nuova scienza nell’opera di Christoph Scheiner. Intorno ad un commentario al De caelo
CAMEROTA, MICHELE
2005-01-01
Abstract
The figure of Christoph Scheiner, Jesuit mathematician and astronomer, Galileo's opponent in a heated controversy over sunspots, is of considerable interest not only in reconstructing an important chapter in Galileo's biography, but also in relation to understanding the scientific debate that went on within the Society of Jesus. In this sense, the analysis of a manuscript commentary to 'De caelo', commonly attributed to Scheiner, clearly presents the resistance within the Order that accompanied the innovations Scheiner proposed regarding the layout and nature of the heavens. Indeed, this manuscript commentary to 'De caelo' maintained the traditional view of solid celestial orbs and blamed Scheiner for his supporting the new theory of fluidity of heavens. Therefore the commentary cannot be attributed to the Jesuit mathematician, who just represented an important target for polemics. By means of a comparison with coeval works by Jesuit philosophers and theologians from the College of Ingolstadt, we are led to conclude that the author of the commentary incorrectly attributed to Scheiner, should instead be recognized in his fellow Jesuit, Simon Felix.
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