Pioneers and Paradigms: Shaping Science and Thought

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, often referred to as the "father of observational astronomy" and the "father of modern physics." He studied medicine at Pisa but abandoned it in 1589 to accept a professorship of mathematics at the university. His ideas, contrary to Aristotle's physics (such as the principle of inertia), and his experiments on mechanics (e.g., speed of falling solids, pendular movement) led to much reproach from his countrymen. This opposition, particularly regarding the prevailing Geocentrism, led him to leave Tuscany.

Geocentrism

An astronomical system that posits the Earth as the center of the universe, with all other planets revolving around it. This model, also known as the Ptolemaic system, was widely accepted for centuries before the advent of Heliocentrism.

Gabriel Marcel

Gabriel Marcel (Paris, 7 December 1889 – 8 October 1973) was a French philosopher and playwright. He argued that individuals can only be understood within the specific situations in which they are involved and committed. This statement constitutes the core of his thinking, which is described as Christian existentialism and personalism.

Humanism

In its proper sense, Humanism denotes the historical fact of the renewal of interest in the classics of Italian literature from the 14th century. This movement spread throughout Europe over the next two centuries, coinciding with a new appreciation for humanity and its role in the world, characteristic of the Renaissance.

Christian Humanism

Christian Humanism is a political philosophy advocating the full realization of human potential within a framework of Christian principles. Among its main exponents is Jacques Maritain. It is also one of the primary foundations for the global development of the Christian Democrat political movement, which began in Europe and Latin America in the first half of the twentieth century.

Heliocentrism

An astronomical system in which the Sun is located at the center, and the planets of the solar system, along with their satellites, comets, and asteroids, revolve around it. This model is also known as the Copernican system and replaced the Geocentric view.

Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton (1642–1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, and philosopher. He described the law of universal gravitation and the three laws of motion (including the law of inertia), which form the basis of classical mechanics. He was the first to demonstrate that the same natural laws govern the movements of both terrestrial and celestial bodies. He also created a mathematical model for Kepler's laws of planetary motion, contributing significantly to celestial mechanics.