Revolutions in Scientific and Political Thought 1600-1715.

Revolutions in Scientific and Political Thought1600-1715

People had always believed…

The earth was flat Earth was the

center of the Universe

The Catholic Church had all the answers

Scientific Revolution

In the 1600s, new technology and new ways of looking at the world emerged

People began using science to explain the world around them

Called the Scientific Revolution Led by Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo

Galilei, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Isaac Newton…

Upset the Catholic Church The Scientific Method: Observation,

hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, discovering scientific law!

Science challenged the authority of the church

Banned books by Galileo, put scientists on trial, etc.

Impact of Science If science could explain the world

around us, maybe it could be applied to other parts of life Politics The economy Social relationships

Age of Enlightenment People saw the universe as a “machine

governed by fixed laws” God was the “master mechanic” Progress- the world and its people could

be improved

Philosophers and the Government

Thomas Hobbes Absolute monarchy

was the best form of government

The Social contract between rulers and the people- people give up some natural rights just to live in society

Philosophers and the Government John Locke

Government must have consent of the people

People have natural rights Life, liberty, property

Overthrow the government if it doesn’t protect your basic rights

• “Philosophes”

• The central figures in the Enlightenment were known as philosophes,

• the French word for “philosophers”

• Many were talented writers

The center of ideas: Paris, France Enlightenment thinkers, philosophes,

gathered in salons to share ideas

The achievement of the philosophes was the Encyclopedie –

Begun in 1750 and completed in 1772, the original work contained 17 text volumes and 11 books of illustrations on science, technology, and history

More than 161 writers wrote articles

It was soon banned by the Catholic Church

Baron de Montesquieu

Separation of Powers creating separate branches of government

Believed in the rights of individuals

Voltaire

French author Religious Tolerance Freedom of Speech

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

Leaders and Reform Enlightened despots

Rulers who wanted to govern with Enlightenment principles

Frederick II (Prussia) Catherine II (Russia) Maria Theresa

Classical movements Art, music, literature adopt

enlightenment ideas Classical style

Enlightenment Opponents

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Wanted people to rely on

instinct and emotion Human beings are naturally

good but civilization corrupts them

People need to create a government devoted to the common good If it’s not, remove the

current government