Another relevant detail is that Socrates’ death was by hemlock, a relatively painless end, and surrounded by friends and family, while Galileo’s involved torture by some folks who knew what they were doing. (Ever seen a strappado? Damn.)
Also, Galileo got a fairly nice compensation package as well. He was deeply in debt and hounded by creditors, but when he agreed that the world didn’t move after all he was basically kept in a comfortable house arrest and his creditors were paid or else told what to go do with themselves; a bit like Pentangeli’s deal on the military base in GODFATHER 2.
So, there-again, the details are unfortunately too interwoven.
Now, if the option were recantation of what I know to be true OR a peaceful death, and I felt I’d lived my life, I might well choose the peaceful death.
Hopefully I’ll never have to make that choice, of course, and I’ll still do the captors the courtesy of at least listening to what kind dental insurance and or travel discounts they offer as part of their alternative plan.