The Views Of Thomas Hobbes And Galilei Galileo On Acquiring Reliable Knowledge

The question, “How can one know that which is true?” is a prevalent question in the works of Thomas Hobbes and Galileo Galilei. This question leads to a discussion about how human beings acquire reliable knowledge. Although truth can be mean several things for different individuals, the pathway to coming across it is similar in most scenarios. Galileo, in his Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina presented his perception of the truth of the universe as a heliocentric system and received backlash due to the widely conceived geocentric model. Hobbes in Leviathan emphasizes the importance of governance through a social contract and absolute sovereignty. Galileo and Hobbes sought after the truth in different aspects but acquired reliable knowledge necessary to do so in similar ways. Both authors came to learn their versions of the truth via the same methods in that they use reason paired with evidence to manifest their beliefs, signifying the importance of obtaining new information to progress humanity forward. Both Hobbes and Galileo believed that truth is not limited to a single, one-dimensional source, but is acquired through the combination of several sources or interpretations.

Thomas Hobbes explains that truth is received and interpreted in different ways for people of different professions. He says, “For as arithmeticians teach to add and subtract in numbers, so that geometricians teach the same in lines, figures (solid and superficial), angles, proportions, time, degrees of swiftness, force, power, and the like” (Hobbes). In other words, a mathematician and geometrician may look at the same sheet of paper but interpret it in completely different ways. While it may seem that the same set of information has one meaning, the reality is that it has a numerous amount of interpretations depending on an individual’s craft. Reason allows one to decide which interpretation is relevant for a particular scenario and helps guide one in acquiring reliable information. For Galileo, both nature, which he viewed as the representation of religion, and science could be used to learn the truth. He argues that 'The novelty of these things, as well as some consequences which are followed from them in contradiction to the physical notions commonly held among academic philosophers, stirred up against me no small number of professors-as if I had placed these things in the sky with my own hands in order to upset nature and overturn the sciences” (Galilei). By mentioning both nature and science, Galileo implies that truth is derived from both, and through reason, humans can determine the proper application of each. Additionally, the mention of the infuriated professors shows that they have acquired their knowledge through some means that led them to hold it as the truth. Therefore, to have the capacity to acquire true knowledge, one must understand that truth is multifaceted and has different interpretations and meanings for different people. Moreover, Hobbes and Galileo believed that to acquire reliable knowledge, people must have the innate desire to seek the truth. When Galileo presented his heliocentric model, he was immediately verbally attacked and accused of heresy. He says, “Showing a greater fondness for their own opinions than for truth they sought to deny and disprove the new things, which if they had cared to look for themselves, their senses would have demonstrated to them” (Galilei). Galileo's rant on the other men's ignorance shows their failure to seek the truth, which in turn shows their lack of progress. Since his opposition was resistant to change, they chose not to learn the truth and were stuck in an endless loop of falsehood. Galileo states that if they had the desire to learn, they could have used reason to understand his model and learn the truth.

Similarly, Hobbes explains that the path to learning the truth is followed by personal drive. Hobbes states, “For reason, in this sense, is nothing but reckoning (that is, adding and subtracting) of the consequences of general names agreed upon for the marking and signifying of our thoughts” (Hobbes). This statement implies that one must reckon his/her lack of knowledge and seek reliable truth from someone with credibility and adequate reasoning. If individuals were to be satisfied with their lack of knowledge, no progress would be made. Society cannot progress individually but depends on relations between teachers and learners. Ultimately, Galileo and Hobbes signify the importance of finding the truth by leaving oneself open to the possibility of new revelations. The two authors emphasize that to obtain the definitive truth, one must be willing to go through adversity and not blindly accept absurd statements. Hobbes asserts that error is standard and creates absurdities. To seek the truth, one must avoid error and use reason to determine the validity of conjectures. To support this, Hobbes says, “But when we make a general assertion unless it is a true one, the possibility of it is inconceivable” (Hobbes). Based on this statement, unless something is absolutely true in its nature, assertions must be doubted until proven otherwise. To accept an account based on its conceivable nature is ignorant and can lead to error. Therefore, one must have doubt and experiment with new assumptions to unravel the truth. Galileo preaches a similar message from his own experience. Instead of conforming to the beliefs of his comrades that the sun revolved around the earth, Galileo did his own research and related his work to Copernicus. The whole point of Galileo writing the letter was to prove to Grand Duchess Christina that the solar system was heliocentric and did not contradict the Bible. To acquire this truth, Galileo had to avoid conformity and recognize the error his peers had made. By doing so, he was able to connect reason and scientific evidence, leading to the conclusion that the planets revolved around the sun. Galileo and Hobbes both advocate against conformity but urge those who seek newfound knowledge to do their research rather than merely accepting the words of others (without evidence). Hobbes and Galileo both said it was important to accept true assertions. At one instance it seems as if Galileo is rejecting a major truth that all Christians held true since the creation of the Bible. Christians believed that the Bible was a guide for how to live on earth and how the universe was constructed. Galileo challenged a belief that was held to be an undisputable truth by stating, “The intention of the Holy Ghost is to teach us how one goes to heaven not how heaven goes” (Galileo). It seems that Galileo was making an absurd statement by saying the Bible does not explain the physical aspects of the universe. However, Galileo is pointing out that the Bible is meant to be interpreted on a spiritual basis, not physical, so that it does not hinder the progression of science. People can find truth in the Bible, but it should not be literally interpreted for physical aspects of the world.

The Bible contains many truths that can be discovered through contemplation, but Galileo clarifies that it is not a source for how the physical world operates. Once again Galileo is going against the common notions of what is true, but he is not acting blasphemous. This allows Galileo to move forward with his heliocentric model and continue to seek new knowledge. The entire purpose to seeking the truth by discovering new information is to allow society to progress. If no reliable knowledge were to be discovered, civilization would be stuck in a state of limbo without any purpose. Thomas Hobbes and Galilei Galileo preach the ways in which one can acquire such knowledge to push mankind forward. A society where everything is taken at face value is bound for failure since it will be consumed by falsehood and absurdity. For society to thrive, it must incorporate a mix of reason and science which will ultimately lead to progression. Hobbes assures this by claiming, “Reason is the pace, increase of science, the way, and the benefit of mankind, the end”. Galileo, through his doubt, created the telescope and was able to confirm the theory of Copernicus. By doing so, he created a completely new perception of the universe that lead to thousands of new discoveries and the advancement of civilization. Hobbes sought after the truth in order to help civilization come together. He realized that human nature was nasty, short, and brutish and believed that a social contract with absolute sovereignty was the answer. Even though Hobbes’s ideology never fully came into fruition, aspects of his plan did that ultimately led to human progression.

Ultimately, Thomas Hobbes and Galilei Galileo presented numerous ways in which individuals can attain dependable knowledge. The first being, to find the truth, it must be understood that truth has many faces and is interpreted in different ways by different people. Second, to acquire reliable knowledge, there must be a desire to seek it for its good. Finally, newfound truth must be doubted unless proven otherwise. Such aspects of finding the truth are essential for the progression of society, since a society without the quest for truth is incoherent. Galileo was eventually tried and found guilty of heresy but laid the foundation for science to take off in a new direction. Hobbes, through Leviathan, was able to promote a new school of thought on how to reshape society, contributing to the establishment of order. To this day, the acquisition of reliable knowledge is a foundation for society and continues to shape the future. Mankind has developed the drive the continue learning, leading to progress in many aspects of the world. Since there is an infinite array of knowledge that is yet to be discovered, who knows where science will lead mankind next.