The "trial" itself was quite energetic and informative. Group by group, each student introduced their historical individuals (while in character), stating their individuals' importance and their stance either for or against Galileo. The Catholics, since their religious ideas and practices conflicted with the beliefs of most of the historical individuals present in this class trial and that it was also their adherence to geocentrism that brought Galileo into the trials in the first place, received the harshest criticisms. The aristocrats/nobles received the second most backlash. It was after introductions that the trial became more free-form. Students representing more prominent individuals (the ones with more political, economic, religious, or intellectual influences) were the most adamant in fortifying their positions and belittling contrary positions. From what I recall, the heaviest speakers and targets were Pope Leo X, John Locke, King Louis XIV of France, Galileo himself, and a couple more. Most leaned towards freeing Galileo. Since the Catholics were the primary opponents who were in favor of condemning Galileo, they held the most prominent speaking positions. The groups that fervently opposed the Catholics - the Protestants, the scientists (both pre-1543 and post-1543), and the philosophers - were both successful in critiquing the Catholics and bringing to light their own agendas (pushing for secular, religious, and scientific reforms). Putting seriousness aside, there were many hilarious moments that was the fault of the antics of the students rather than of the their characters. Putting students in boxes, using awkward slogan phrases, and prowling the classroom like a cat are activities that would not have occurred in the actual trial, but they were elements that brought enjoyment to the classroom. Ultimately, Galileo was not condemned and that progressive ideas had won out.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Reflection: How the Trial Went
HIS 4B's Galileo Trials happened on March 14, 2015, and it went well. There were a variety of costumes, ranging from togas, cat accessories, lab coats, and even one student who adorned his body with several bike locks (his character was John Locke, or "Lock" as he was hinting at). My group, the pre-1543 scientists, had our own set of costumes to represent our historical individuals: togas and homemade parts to represent the Greek scientists (e.g. Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy), a red-themed attire to represent Dr. Faust, etc. My costume (to represent alchemist Nicolas Flamel) consisted of a green shirt ("Nicholas Flamel" from the the Harry Potter series wore green), a "Philosopher's Stone" (I used an orange highlighter on a regular stone), and a graduation gown to emphasize my scholarly background.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Script for Galileo Trial
Here are the points I want to make in the Galileo Trial:
- Introduction: Nicolas Flamel = French alchemist; "discovered" the Philosopher's Stone; Catholic
- Philosopher's Stone grants immortality and transforming base metals like lead into gold
- Flamel's "achievements" as an alchemist came about two centuries after his death through books believed to have been attributed to Flamel. For the Galileo Trial, I am using the Flamel as described by his legend and not so much on the historical Flamel
- According to the legend, Flamel and his wife Perenelle achieved immortality and wealth from the Philosopher's Stone and there were claims of sightings of the couple centuries after their death
- Magic/alchemy represented an ancient science that eventually modern science began to discredit and completely replace. This is comparable to Catholicism and Protestantism and also geocentrism and heliocentrism in that a former, faulty belief is replaced by a new belief
- Since Flamel was both dedicated to alchemy/magic and was Catholic, he would have likely retain ancient views like geocentrism and sided against Galileo during the trial
- Furthermore, Flamel lived during the 14th and 15th century, prior to Martin Luther "Ninety-Five Theses" and so he was less likely to witnessed or even agree to the clergy's misuse of power and Scripture
- During the Galileo Trials, my most likely allies would would the Catholics and my enemies would be the Protestants and, to a larger degree, the post-1543 scientists
- Flamel would likely have a neutral standing with the aristocrats and the philosophers because they may have contributed little to his profession
- While most of the pre-1543 scientists may support Galileo given that he proves his case with scientific justifications, they would sympathize with Flamel's position because geocentrism was a central belief during their lifetimes and that, given the technology during their time, geocentrism seemed logical
The Brotherhood of Alchemists
Nicolas Flamel was but one of many practitioners of alchemy. The ultimate goals for alchemists were turning base metals into valuable metals like silver and gold and the ability to obtain immortality and eternal youth; the powers to achieve great wealth from very little and to transcend human limitations were very enticing (the desires to obtain these things still remain today). There are two other names in the history of alchemy: Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus (who was my previous character choice). Let's see who were these two, their contributions to alchemy, and their stance in the Galileo Trial if they were able to take part.
Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, or Paracelsus for short, was less known as an alchemist and more for his contributions in medicine and toxicology. Paracelsus was like a precursor to the scientists of the Scientific Revolution in that he valued natural observations over the ancient teachings of medicine. He was an early reformer, showing opposition towards tradition as did Galileo albeit for different reasons. Some compared Paracelsus' rebellious teachings to that of Luther's ideas (Luther was a contemporary of Paracelsus), but Paracelsus himself objected to comparisons with the Christian reformer. Despite having dealt with alchemy to a certain degree, he was less keen about magic compared to other individuals. He opposed the magic theories of not just Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, but also Nicolas Flamel himself. Nonetheless, he involved with pseudoscience such as his astrological research on talismans. Among his accomplishments were his pioneering the use of minerals and chemicals in medicine and his naming of the element zinc. Though he was an individual full of arrogance and independence (thus earning hatred among his colleagues), it was because of these qualities that made him a better scientist and a reformer like the great intellectuals that came after him (e.g. Isaac Newton, Galileo).
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was a German that delved more into magic that Paracelsus. He was a theologian and, like Paracelsus, an astrologer and alchemist. During his lifetime, he became fixated with the occult and magic arts and, as a result, was persecuted and stripped of many of his positions. Towards the end of his life, he began to reject much of his former beliefs, placing doubts in the existence of magic. The book that he withheld due to changing beliefs was his Third Book of Occult Philosophy, which he thought contained words of "destruction."
Both of these men delved into alchemy in one way or another. However, both them and Nicolas Flamel had contrasting perspectives about magic. Paracelsus only temporarily involved with alchemy and relied more on his scientific and observational principles to support his beliefs. Cornelius and Flamel dedicated their lives into the magical arts with Cornelius eventually relenting to the non-existence of magic and Flamel, according to his legend, ultimately creating the Philosopher's Stone. None of these individuals would have known the dramatic reforms that would then question the former beliefs of how the world worked.
Sources:
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Flamel Versus Protestants and Aristocrats
As a Catholic, Nicolas Flamel would not have much religious agreement with Protestants. In most senses, the matter that was the root of Galileo's trial (heliocentrism vs. geocentrism) was scientific rather than religious. However, there were consequences (even religious ones) to Galileo's denial of a traditional view. Heliocentrism may have brought to question the Biblical interpretation of the creation of the earth and mankind, beginning with the idea that the sun, not the earth, is the center of the universe. The Protestant Reformation itself was inspired by non-traditional (non-Catholic) reinterpretations of the Bible though it was also inspired but the desire to extinguish the corruption of the clergy. That being said, Galileo and Copernicus' ideas may have been too forward-moving for either the Catholics and the Protestants. Denying the belief that earth is the center of the inverse was not the intent of Martin Luther and his Ninety-Five Theses, John Calvin and his support of predestination, and the pre-Protestant Jan Huss.
Flamel Versus His Fellow Catholics
Would Nicolas Flamel and several historical Catholic figures share the same positions if they took part in the Galileo Trial? Most Catholics during and before Galileo's time upheld the traditional belief that Earth was the center of the universe. Nicolas Flamel was also Catholic, but so were many intellectuals, aristocrats, and political leaders. However, if you've read my previous posts, I argued that Flamel would have taken a position against Galileo, and hence, the Catholics would serve as a good ally for Flamel. Here are some information of some of the Catholics:
- St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - He was a Catholic priest and Dominican friar who supported Aristotle's philosophical ideas. He combined methodical reason with religious studies. Faith and reason were necessary for humans to find truth.
- Pope Alexander VI (1431-1503) - He was pope from 1492 to 1503. His patronage of famous Renaissance artists like Raphael and Michelangelo is well documented. While he brought lots of reform to the church, he also contradicted Christian values like his vows of celibacy.
- Pope Leo X (1431-1503) - His papacy lasted from 1513 to 1521. Despite spending heavily, he was a renown patron of the arts and brought educational reforms. He also granted the sale of indulgences, which Martin Luther opposed to.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) - Founder of the Jesuits organization (Society of Jesus). He took part in the Counter-Reformation that reformed the Catholic Church after the Protestant Revolution.
- (Cardinal) Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) - He was a participant in the Counter-Reformation. In 1616, Bellarmine notified Galileo of the decree that denied heliocentrism, telling him to recant his beliefs, in which Galileo relented though hesitantly (he believed he was forced to abandon his ideas)
- Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) - Once a friend of Galileo, he then summoned the astronomer to abandon his ideas. He was a patron of the arts.
- Hans Behem (the "Drummer of Niklashausen") - a shepherd and musician during the 15th century. He believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave him instructions to kill the priests. He was the main subject in Richard Wunderli's Peasant Fires.
Most of these name would strictly adhere to the belief that Earth was the center of the universe. Hans Behem was not well-educated and was merely an "prophet" with pre-Protestant ideologies. Some figures like Pope Urban VIII took part of the actual trial against Galileo, and they denied Galileo's idea. St. Thomas Aquinas was more educated and reasonable than the other examples, but would have sided against Galileo because he adhered to his theological beliefs.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Harry Potter and Nicholas Flamel
I hope we all still remember the Harry Potter series. The final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released on 2007 and the two-part film adaptions for the book were released on 2010 and 2011 respectively. It's now 2015 and it seems like a long time since the world reveled in the J.K. Rowling's magical universe. Do you remember the name Nicholas Flamel? I am not referring to the real-life, historical figure, Nicolas (without the 'h") Flamel, but the fictional, historical figure from within the Harry Potter universe that played an influential role in facilitating the plot of the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Nicholas Flamel never physically appeared in the book nor the film, but he was the only creator of the book/film's titular object of interest, the Philosopher's Stone. Here's the link to the wikia page dedicated to information on Nicholas Flamel and the entire Harry Potter franchise: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel
The fictional character was born on 1327, close to the real Nicolas Flamel's birth date. The historical timelines of many fictional universes tend to coincide with human history to serve as the basis for the author's magical reinterpretations. The character died at around the age of 665 in 1992. What attributed to his long age, as well as his wife, Perenelle, was the Elixir of Life which he created using the Philosopher's Stone. While the Philosopher's Stone in the series contains the power to grant immortality, it is not known if it could change metals in gold. Nicholas Flamel was a great alchemist and was friends with Albus Dumbeldore. However, both realized the dangers of the misuse of the Philosopher's Stone, which manifested in the yet incomplete Voldemort's attempt to use the stone to achieve immortality. As suspected of the hero of the book, Harry Potter (and his close friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Granger) foiled the antagonist's plans and saved the world (temporarily) from evil. J.K. Rowling once stated that while writing the book, Nicolas Flamel emerged from a dream of hers and that he showed her how to create the Philosopher's Stone. This, of course, was a moment of inspiration for a writer of children's book and not some spiritual or magical projection that guided her into making a real stone. The moral of this post is that immortality is but a selfish goal and that we should not use means (e.g. science) to try to achieve it.
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Sunday, March 1, 2015
Imagine Nicolas Flamel Present in Galileo's Trial
Imagine if Nicolas Flamel and several historical individuals who were alive at different times and at different economic, social, political, religious, and scientific circumstances were present in Galileo's trial against the Church. On March 5, 2015 in Kathy Stuart's HIS 4B class, students will reenact this special kind of Galileo's trial. If we recall, the circumstances of Galileo's trial was that he both believed and published the idea that the sun was the center of the universe (heliocentrism) as opposed to the traditional belief that Earth was the center instead (geocentrism). We now know both views to be untrue since the sun is the center of the Solar System, a microscopic community of planets within the infinitely vast universe. However, Galileo, using the skills and tools available during the time, supported a view that defied a traditional view that permeated for a couple thousands of years. The Church obviously believed Galileo's belief was heresy, but what about people of different historic background. Would Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Emperor Charles V, Voltaire, Nicolas Flamel, or Isaac Newton, given that such individuals somehow miraculously gathered together in the trial, have supported Galileo's view? Going over the positions of each of these individuals would defeat the entire purpose of this whole blog. I will only go over Nicolas Flamel's position since he is our main protagonist.
As one of the pre-1543 scientist faction for HIS 4B's in-class Galileo Trial, Nicolas Flamel lived in a time that was rooted to the idea that Earth was the center of the universe. Flamel was neither a philosopher like Plato nor a theologian and astrologist like Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. Instead, he was a Catholic alchemist believed to have discovered the Philosopher's Stone. The overall consensus during A05 discussion section (the pre-1542 scientists) was that the group as a whole would likely support Galileo's position despite living during a time in which geocentrism was the popular view. The reason being was that so long Galileo scientifically proved his idea, the pre-scientists would advocate any attempt for higher knowledge or better understanding. However, individually, some of the scientists, like Nicolas Flamel, might find no reason to support Galileo. According to his legend, Flamel devoted his alchemical studies to the discovery of the Philosopher's Stone, an object rooted in the magical beliefs of the time. Unlike other sciences like philosophy and astrology, alchemy has more emphasis on the magical aspects, which is considered implausible in terms of modern science. We can think of anything related to magic as "traditional" just as geocentrism was to heliocentrism. Furthermore, Flamel was Catholic and geocentrism had been a universal belief for Catholics for several centuries. Because of this, Nicolas Flamel, whom I would reenact as in the in-class Galileo Trial, would argue against Galileo despite my whole group, the pre-1543 scientists, arguing for the opposite as a whole.
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