On Trial For Reason

Reviews / Votes

Students of early modern science are indebted to Maurice Finocchiaro for his lifetime of scholarly effort relating to the work of Galileo ... this latest work is also welcome, providing a readable summary of the main issues at stake in the Galileo affair and of Finocchiaro's defence of Galileo's reasoning. I say 'defence' because ... While his latest book exemplifies the even-handedness he praises in the work of his seventeenth-century hero, it nevertheless constitutes a vigorous defence of both Galileo's approach to the scientific enterprise and his attempts to separate science and religion. * Gregory Dawes, Metascience * Finocchiaro [...] presents the arguments of Galileo, his supporters and his opponents with lucidity. * Geoffrey Cantor, The Times Higher Education Supplement * a comprehensive account of the Galileo affair ... Finocchiaro's book is a must-read for all those interested in this episode constitutive of modernity. * Revue des Questions Scientifiques * This is a truly masterful presentation with a critical analysis of the underlying issues; even though it is not geared to the usual small scholarly audience, it will be welcomed by those historians of astronomy who are not expert in the world of Galileo ... Finocchiaro is not afraid at ruffling academic feathers, which is an especially refreshing approach; it gives his text an edginess that makes this book eminently readable and entirely fascinating. * Clifford Cunningham, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage * A highly enjoyable and profitable reading experience. * Jose Manuel Lozano-Gotor, ESSSAT News & Reviews * Finocchiaro does a great job of explaining complexities to a lay audience, clearly with the intent of promoting deeper understanding. Such awareness is required to understand the nuances of Galileo's trial, which involved theological, scientific, and epistemological arguments. * Matthew R. Fisher, The American Biology Teacher * Finocchiaro presents a fascinating examination of these [trial] events and the ways Galileo's trial was essential in turning the Copernican hypothesis into accepted theory. * Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American * Finocchiaro [...] undertakes with great care a discussion of the nature of rationality and of Galileo's argumentative techniques ... Combining history and philosophy of science, [he] provides an interpretive key from the point of view of a lay scholar, but always ready to do justice to both sides of the controversy. * Stefano Gattei, Corriere della sera (translated from Italian) * With lucid explanations and clear illustrations, [Finocchiaro] paints a picture of the early 16th-century worldview ... He takes us there by way of an interesting, authoritative journey through the history of science and philosophy. Enriched with a detailed bibliography and index, "On Trial for Reason" is destined to become the classic treatment of this subject. * Nancy L. Roberts, Catholic News Service * Finocchiaro does a masterly job of explaining the real issues involved in the trial and how the trial has been interpreted down to the present day. It is a subtle and complex story out of which Galileo emerges with great credit. * The Church of England Newspaper * [A] spirited book. * Jonathan Wright, The Catholic Herald * With scrupulous attention to evidence and the argumentation employed by various participants, Dr. Finocchiaro's book is at once an accessible primer on a key event in the 16th- and 17th-century Scientific Revolution, and a thought provoking look at how the subsequent controversies resonate down to the present day. * Aaron Weinacht, New Books Network * Finocchiaro, already the author of [several] books about Galileo, details the way in which the scientist's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems led to his inquisition trial. The comprehensive account is full of information likely to be new to the reader. * Ralph Jones, New Humanist * Authoritative ... [Finocchiaro] highlights open-mindedness, judiciousness and fair-mindedness, concluding that Galileo was a indeed a model of critical reasoning. These qualities also apply to the book as a whole, which can be highly recommended as a nuanced study of this famous episode. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer * What I like about On Trial for Reason is that it very economically gives you a lot of basic things that you want to know about Galileo. What exactly is the nature of Galileo's scientific innovation? What has he done? What are the controversies? What are the problems of it from a scientific perspective, from a philosophical perspective, and then, of course, ultimately, from a religious perspective? He [Finocchiaro] also reads the trial like a forensic analyst. * Paula Findlen, FiveBooks * This work is distinguished by an unhurried, comprehensive presentation of the relevant historical facts...and a patient unbraiding and discussion of the surprisingly numerous and diverse methodological issues...They cannot be found laid out and explained with anywhere near the adequacy and clarity they receive here in any other book on the topic. All future discussion on Galileo necessarily moves through Finocchiaro's culminating masterpiece. * Patrick Madigan, The Heythrop Journal *