The Scientific Revolution 16 th and 17 th Centuries
Jan 05, 2016
The Scientific Revolution
16th and 17th Centuries
Objective
To understand the causes of the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries
To understand the ideas of key figures of the Scientific Revolution
To understand the significance of the Scientific Revolution
Medieval Science
Not really “science” but accepted body of tradition
The Ptolemaic System
Geocentric Model
Nicholas Copernicus
Polish astronomer (1473-1543)
On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres– Published just before he died
Heliocentric model
Nicholas Copernicus
The Heliocentric Model
Galileo Galelei
Supporter of heliocentric system
The Telescope
Starry Messenger
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo vs. the Catholic church
Galileo on trial in 1616
Tycho Brahe
Danish astronomer (1546-1601)
Geocentric-Heliocentric model
Data used by his student, Johannes Kepler
Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler
German astronomer (1571-1630)
Argued planets moved in elliptical orbits
But could not explain why
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler
Isaac Newton
English scientist (1642-1727)
Principia Mathematica
Revolutionized science with theory of gravity
Isaac Newton
Rationalism
New science means a new way of looking at the world
Empirical method by Francis Bacon Rational deduction by Rene Descartes People no longer looked to authority or
tradition to understand life
Activity
Using Page 623-628– Vocabulary
• Geocentric theory• Scientific Revolution• Heliocentric theory• Scientific method
New Discoveries
Causes:
Isaac Newton
Galileo Galilei
Scientific Revolution
Political Theory
New scientific principles influences people’s relationship to society
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
The Leviathan
Major Enlightenment Ideas
Every social, political and economic problem could be solved through the use of reason
Governments are created to secure an orderly society
Separation of powers is the best way to protect human liberties
All men are created “free and equal” A free market should be allowed to regulate
trade
Enlightenment Thinkers
John Locke
Baron de Montesquieu
Voltaire
Social Contract
Thomas Hobbes John Locke•Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.•To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract.•Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.•Believed only an absolute monarchy could keep a society completely orderly.
•Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good•Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property•People form governments to protect natural rights•Best government was one with limited power•If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government
Separation of Powers
Baron de Montesquieu: Criticized absolute monarchy and admired British government– British protected themselves from tyranny by
dividing powers of government between three branches: legislative, executive and judicial (misconception)
– Each branch of government should be
able to ‘check’ the other two What government does this sound like?
Enlightenment and the Economy Physiocrats rejected mercantilism in
favor of a policy called laissez faire.– Physiocrats were Enlightenment
thinkers who focused on economic reforms
Laissez-Faire: allowing business to operate with little or no government interference– Real wealth comes from productive land not
gold and silver
– Supported free trade and opposed tariffs
Enlightenment and the Economy
Adam Smith: Free market should be allowed to regulate business activity– Manufacturing, trade, wages, profits and economic growth
are all linked to the market forces of supply and demand– Where there is demand, suppliers will seek to meet it
because there are profits and economic rewards to be had– Smith supported laissez faire, but also believed that a
government had a duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public works.
His ideas lead to very productive economies during the Industrial Revolution (1800’s and 1900’s)
Supply and Demand
Major Enlightenment Ideas for Society
Detested the slave trade and slavery Deplored religious prejudice Defended freedom of speech Attacked divine right theory Urged education for all Hated unequal distribution of property Believed governments should be freely
elected Women’s first duty was to her family
Enlightenment Changes Society
Women: Women were not equal and were criticized for attempting to gain equality
Salons: Men and women gather in living rooms to discuss Enlightenment ideas (chat rooms)
Music: Ballets and operas become popular (Bach, Handel, Mozart)
Art: Baroque gives way to rococo art (simple, elegant and charming)
Literature: Novels become popular (Robinson Cruesoe)
Enlightenment Changes Society
Majority/Lower Class/Peasants: Slow to change and hurt the worst– Serfdom disappears in the west, rises in the east– Peasants in Western Europe allowed to own or rent land– All peasants throughout Europe dealt with similar issues
• Forced into military• Lands could be torn up without compensation by
nobility
Some peasants become eager for change, some resist change completely
REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?
a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire
Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of
mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of
laissez faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and
laissez faire.d) They focused on social reform.
REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?
a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire
Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of
mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of
laissez faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and
laissez faire.d) They focused on social reform.
Enlightenment ThinkersIn republican governments, men are
all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the
latter, because they are nothing.
~Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws Bk. VI, Ch.2
The market price of every particular commodity is
regulated by the proportion between the quantity which is actually brought to
market, and the demand of those who are willing to pay the natural price of the commodity or the whole value of the
rent, labor and profit which must be paid in
order to bring it thither.
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The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property, and putting themselves
under government, is the preservation of their property.
~John Locke Second Treatise of Government ChXIX, “Of the Dissolution in Government”
Political Theory
John Locke (1632-1704)– Two Treatises on Government (1690)
– An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)
Warning
Scientific revolution did not affect most of society
Most people in Europe illiterate and uneducated
Superstitions still remain among common people
Witch Hunts popular in 1500s and 1600s
Conclusion
Medieval science based on tradition in understanding nature
Scientific Revolution changes people’s view on the universe
Scientific principles affect other bodies of knowledge
Scientific Revolution does not affect everybody but sets the stage for the modern world