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Primary Source

The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems

  • The book was written in 1632 in Florence, Italy

  • It compares the Ptolemaic (idea that the Earth is the center of the universe) and Copernican (the idea that the sun is stationary and planets revolve around it)

  • Part 1 mostly contains criticisms against the Aristotelian philosophy.

  • Part 2 explains the laws of Inertia

  • Part 3 contains arguments for Copernicus 

  • Part 4 explains the Copernican explanation of the solar system

  • Because of this book, Galileo was questioned by the Church of Florence and was put under house arrest.

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