Both Galileo and Descartes faced significant challenges in their work, primarily due to the opinions of others and the Catholic Church.
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The Opinions of Others: Both thinkers encountered skepticism and opposition from their contemporaries. Galileo faced criticism from other scientists and philosophers who were resistant to his ideas, particularly his support for the heliocentric model of the solar system. Similarly, Descartes had to contend with the prevailing Aristotelian views that dominated scientific thought at the time.
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The Catholic Church: Galileo's work was particularly hindered by the Catholic Church, which condemned his support for heliocentrism as it contradicted Scripture. He was ultimately tried by the Inquisition and placed under house arrest, which severely restricted his ability to conduct research and publish his findings.
These factors significantly impacted their work, leading to conflicts that hindered the acceptance and dissemination of their groundbreaking ideas.