Astronomical Dialogue - Tenmon Taiwa

Galileo's work on the heliocentric theory. Published in 1632. The original title was Dialogue between Ptolemy and Copernicus on the Two Great World Systems (Dialogue between Ptolemy and Copernicus). It unfolds as a four-day debate between three characters, the geocentric, heliocentric, and rational. On the first day, they criticize Aristotelian astronomy, on the second day they examine the causes of terrestrial phenomena, on the third day they explain celestial phenomena seen through a telescope, and on the fourth day they explore the causes of tidal phenomena. Through these dialogues, it becomes clear that the heliocentric theory is superior to the geocentric theory. Galileo accepted the heliocentric theory at an early stage and proved it through astronomical observations using a telescope. He wrote his work in his native Italian instead of Latin, and chose a dialogue instead of a treatise, with the aim of educating the public. However, he was found to be a heretic by the Vatican, the 68-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment, and his books were banned.

[Shimamura Fukutaro]

"Astronomical Dialogues, Volumes 1 and 2, translated by Yasuzo Aoki (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ガリレイの地動説に関する著作。1632年刊。原著標題は『プトレマイオスとコペルニクスとの二大世界体系についての対話』Dialogo sopra i due massimi del mondo, Tolemaico e Copernicano。天動説派、地動説派、良識派の三登場人物が4日間にわたって議論する形で展開される。第1日アリストテレス流の天体論を批判、第2日地上諸現象の原因を検討、第3日望遠鏡で見た天界現象の説明、第4日潮汐(ちょうせき)現象の原因を探究。これら対話のやりとりで、地動説が天動説に勝ることが明らかにされていく内容である。ガリレイはつとに地動説を認め、望遠鏡による天体観測でそれを実証した。著作の形式としてラテン語のかわりに母国語イタリア語を用い、論文体でなく対話体を選んで、世人への啓発を意図した。しかし教皇庁により異端と裁決され、68歳の老身は終身禁固、著書は禁書指定となった。

［島村福太郎］

『青木靖三訳『天文対話』上下（岩波文庫）』

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