Dear Eduardo,
A few facts about Galileo, scientific communities, and the academies
in Italy may answer your question.
The Florentine Accademia del Disegno accepted Galileo to membership
two and a half decades after he was appointed to the chair of
philosophy (natural science) and mathematics at the University of
Pisa in 1589. He also held the chair of mathematics in Padua from
1592. In 1610, Cosimo II, Grand Duke of Tuscany appointed him as
mathematician and philosopher (natural scientist) to the
principality. Since his appointment in Pisa did not require that he
teach or even be present, he moved to Florence.
In addition to his work as a scientist and mathematician, Galileo was
a skilled military and civil engineer, and an instrument maker of the
greatest renown. In terms of the broad scope of interests of a design
academy, he would have been well qualified and much of his work --
especially engineering -- fit within the scope of the academy charter.
But the first scientific academy in Italy -- and some say in the
world -- was founded a century before Galileo's students established
the Academia del Cimento. This was the Academia Secretorum Naturae in
Naples, founded by Giambattista della Porta in 1560. Della Porta
established his academy three years before the Accademia del Disegno
was founded in 1563.
Before he joined the Accademia del Disegno, Galileo joined the
Accademia dei Lincei, a distinguished scientific academy established
in 1603. Despite some breaks in continuity, the Accademia dei Lincei
celebrated its fourth century in 2003. It is now Italy's national
academy of science.
Galileo constantly sought patronage, connections, and opportunities
to advance his personal fortune along with his research. The
political power and patronage relations of the Accademia del Disegno
made it a useful network for Galileo. This is why he applied for
membership.
The academy accepted Galileo because he was Italy's leading scientist
and engineer, and a major figure in European science. The remit of
the Accademia del Disegno covered more than art, and the arts in
those days included most of the mechanical arts that we call
engineering today, as well as covering some areas of mathematics as
well as some forms of applied and theoretical physics. Galileo's
achievements made him extraordinarily valuable as a member of the
academy.
This would explain why he applied and why they accepted him.
Yours,
Ken
--
Eduardo Corte-Real wrote:
Dear All,
Does any one know why the Florentine Academia del Disegno admited
Galileo as an academic in 1613?
I mean, besides the fact that he aplied and that he was accepted. And
even besides the fact that the first Scientific Academy (Academia del
Cimento) the world was founded only a few years later in 1657?
I mean, Why did he applied?
Why was he accepted?
I really don't know.
Help, anyone?
Eduardo
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