CHAPTER 3 INSIGHT

“Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe” Galileo Galilei

“Do we have enough mentors for three?”

“Yes, Smith can take another apprentice.”

“Owen, over here please,”

“You will be assigned as an apprentice to professor Robert Smith, do you know where his office is?” Owen nodded, and professor M‘Laurine motioned with his hand indicating that he should proceed immediately there. Owen actually didn’t know where Robert Smith’s office was, but all the professorial offices branched off the same corridor, and were clearly labeled.

Owen knocked on the office door. “Come!” said a voice from inside. Professor Smith was seated at a desk, currently in the act of writing.

Owen began to introduce himself, only to be silenced by a gesture. The man at the desk stopped writing and looked at the ceiling pensively, then continued to write. Owen considered the possibility that this might be some sort of test to see how he would react to being ignored. Professor Smith had a reputation as a bit of a recluse, but Owen had never seen the man before today, so he opted to stand and wait until he was recognized by the older man.

After over 30 minutes, the white haired man at the desk stopped writing and went to one of the bookshelves. He selected a rather large volume and handed it to Owen.

“Here’s your first lesson, read this!” It was a thick tome, unremarkable until Owen read the title page.

“It’s..it’s Galileo's autobiography! I never knew he wrote one.”

“That’s actually volume three, read it, and tell me the most important thing you learn from it.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Owen took the book and headed out the door to the office. “Just where do you think you’re going Mr Burton?”

“Home to read the book like you said.”

“I never said that you could take the book home! It’s far too valuable. Take a seat and begin.” With that, Professor Smith left the room, leaving Owen to read.

Owen took a seat. He began reading. It certainly wasn’t the first volume, so it was a little hard to follow as he didn’t have the context of the previous volumes. Also, it wasn’t about what he had initially thought it would be about. This wasn’t a scientific text at all, it was the account of Galeleo’s arrest and imprisonment, as well as the events leading up to it. It told of the Heliocentric debate, and how his position and publications on the subject had displeased Pope Paul V.

Owen began to see that it was entirely possible that his mentor was having him read this because of religious reasons. The Church of England had denounced papal authority before Galileo’s time, perhaps his teacher just wanted him to further cement his loyalty to the church’s position, or at least against the pope.

Several hours later Owen found his advisor, and told him that the most important thing was that the Pope, and by extension, the Catholic church was altogether bad for science.

“Incorrect, read it again. Come back when you do.”

After re-reading the autobiography, Owen resolved that what his teacher intended for him to learn was that the truth remained the truth regardless of what others might say. And that arguing with fact did not change reality, it just meant that you were ignorant.

This was also wrong apparently. Owen’s mentor said as much, though not in such kind terms.

Owen had to sleep, so he went home, leaving the book in the office. When he arrived at home, his parents were arguing. It wasn’t one of those where they were yelling at each other, but there was tension in the air. The only thing that Owen overheard was his mother, almost in tears, screaming “Why did you even tell me that?” The phrase struck a chord with Owen, and he saw what his teacher was looking for. There was no reason why Galileo should have shared and published this information, it was dangerous for him to do so. If he instead had only shared the information with those who could actually understand the truth, then he would have been safe from the inquisition.

Both Owen and his father had forgotten about their promised conversation from the previous night. It was understandable, as Owen was much more preoccupied with his thoughts on Galileo, and his father engaged in the argument with his mother. As a result, Owen never got the chance to tell his father that night that he was being inducted into the Galilean Conspiracy.