Bruno was killed for freely inquiring into the nature of our universe. In a time such as it was that included religious and philosophical speculation as religio

Bruno was killed for freely inquiring into the nature of our universe. In a time such as it was that included religious and philosophical speculation as religious and philosophical ideas formed much of the foundation of how people understood the world. I think it is fair to view him as a hero of science however since he lived in an unscientific time it does not make sense to call him a scientist. >And where this article is concerned, the Galileo affair stretched something like 20 years and his house arrest in the papal apartments, overlooking the Vatican gardens, was largely the result of decades of political intrigue and him having accrued enemies. That Galileo's enemies were able to use his scientific views against him is not evidence that he was not persecuted for his scientific views. It is merely evidence that it is possible a more nimble or charismatic political player may have avoided such persecution.