Paradigm Shift: The Trial of Galileo

I would try to convince the philosopher and the mathematician that although it is difficult to abandon the principles and ideas that you believed your entire life, you must be open to new evidence.  I would try to convince them that the second-hand knowledge that was communicated to them about Earth’s position in the universe might not be reliable.  For instance, the mathematician quotes the prominent philosopher Aristotle.  They quote him because he is a greatly renowned scholar who shaped a large part of the cultural paradigm of that time, but they don’t produce any real proof.  On the other hand, Galileo can produce solid evidence that his conclusions are true.  Although it may be difficult to try to convince them that we are not the center of the universe because of the emotional commitment involved in that way of thinking, I would try to show them that if your different senses match up and point you towards a certain conclusion, it can very well be an accurate depiction of reality – even if it goes against what you previously thought.