Renaissance man

摘要

Galileo Galilei is known as one of the founders of modern science. But his works, as well as those of co-founders such as Isaac Newton, are seldom read. It is not that they are in some exotic language: Newton wrote in Latin, Galileo mainly in a limpid, straightforward Italian, in contrast to the baroque style of many of his contemporaries. As well as science, Galileo is a major figure in Italian history and literature. Italian high schools teach his dramatic life and prosecution by the Inquisition. But professional historians of science aside, few Italians have read many of his works.