Why did the scientific dispute between Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta not become personally hostile?

The scientific dispute between Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta regarding the nature of electricity did not descend into personal hostility primarily due to the character of the two men. Galvani’s gentle nature and Volta’s high principles precluded any harshness between them during their disagreement.1

Despite their conflicting scientific views—with Galvani proposing the existence of "animal electricity" and Volta arguing for "metallic electricity"—Volta maintained a deep respect for his colleague's work, famously describing Galvani’s research as "one of the most beautiful and most surprising discoveries". While partisan groups eventually rallied to both sides, the mutual respect held by the two scientists ensured that their professional debate remained civil.1