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The Carmelite theologian Foscarini defended Copernicanism as compatible with Scripture in this open letter, originally printed in Naples in 1615. Foscarini employed arguments similar to Galileo’s own Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina, penned in the same year. In the Inquisition’s decree of 1616, Foscarini’s Letter was prohibited and condemned outright; while Copernicus’ De revolutionibus and Zuniga’s commentary on the Book of Job were only suspended until they could be corrected. Galileo escaped unmentioned. However, he was instructed to remain within the boundaries of a mathematician and hold that Copernicanism was merely hypothetical, rather than argue for its physical truth, scientific certainty, or theological acceptability.
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Resource Type: Book