The Galileo defended himself against persecution by the Catholic Church by renouncing his heliocentric views and pledging not to promote them.
Galileo defended himself against persecution by the Catholic Church by adopting a strategy of self-preservation.
He initially tried to navigate a delicate balance between his scientific findings and the authority of the Church.
When faced with the threat of punishment, Galileo chose to publicly renounce his heliocentric views and pledged not to promote them.
This allowed him to avoid more severe consequences and continue his work in natural philosophy while still preserving his personal safety.