An essential introduction to this groundbreaking work for students of science, philosophy and history.

Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations PART I: PRELIMINARIES TO READING THE DIALOGUE 1. General Relevance 2. Intellectual Background 3. Historical Context PART II: MAIN ARGUMENT IN THE DIALOGUE 4. Day I Similarity of Earth and Heaven 5. Day II Earth's Daily Axial Rotation 6. Day III Earth's Annual Heliocentric Revolution 7. Day IV Geokinetic Explanation of Tides PART III: SPECIAL ASPECTS OF THE DIALOGUE 8. Science: Robust Confirmation of Earth's Motion 9. Methodology: Critical Reasoning and Balanced Judgment 10. Rhetoric: Persuasion and Eloquence PART IV: CONCLUSION 11. Historical Aftermath and Enduring Legacy Appendix: Table of Cross-References among Editions Selected Bibliography

Maurice A Finocchiaro is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus; University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has written and translated numerous works on Galileo and the history of science including Galileo on the World Systems: A New Abridged Translation and Guide (1997) and The Essential Galileo (2008).