The contribution of Giordano Bruno to the principle of relativity
Abstract
The trial and condemnation of Giordano Bruno was mainly based on arguments of a philosophical and theological nature, and therefore different from Galileo Galilei's trial. Such elements contribute to unfairly devalue the scientific contribution of Bruno and do not properly account for his contribution to physics. This paper discusses the contribution that Bruno made to the principle of relativity. This was first discussed by Galileo Galilei in 1632 using the metaphor known today as 'Galileo's ship', but we shall show that this same metaphor and some of the examples in Galileo's book were already contained in a dialogue published by Bruno in 1584. In fact, Bruno largely anticipated the arguments of Galilei on the relativity principle, in particular to support the Copernican view. It is likely that Galilei was aware of Bruno's work, and it is possible that the young Galilei discussed it with Bruno, since they both stayed in Venice for long periods in 1592.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
- Pub Date:
- November 2015
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1504.01604
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1504.01604
- Bibcode:
- 2015JAHH...18..241D
- Keywords:
-
- Galileo Galilei;
- Giordano Bruno;
- principle of relativity;
- heliocentric system;
- Nicolaus Copernicus;
- Doctores Parisienses;
- Jean Buridan;
- Nicole Oresme;
- Physics - History and Philosophy of Physics;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 1 figure