Unit 10 - Chapter 17 Revolution & Enlightenment
Unit 10 - Chapter 17Revolution & Enlightenment
Section 1 – Scientific Revolution• (1500’s) Europeans began to question the
scientific assumptions of the ancient authorities and to develop new theories about the universe.
• Francis Bacon – Scientific method – Use inductive reasoning to form a hypothesis– Run a series of tests
Copernicus• Heliocentric solar system (sun centered).• This was viewed as heresy.
Galileo• Used the telescope to view the moon and
Jupiter’s moons.• Reinforced the views of Copernicus.• Arrested and tried for heresy – he recants.
Isaac Newton• Used gravity to explain the movements of
planets.• All things in universe are attracted to each
other.
Rene Descartes
• Father of modern rationalism• Reason is the chief source of knowledge.• “I think, therefore I am.”
Section 2 The Enlightenment
• 18th Century Philosophical movement• Apply the scientific method to all life• The physical world is like a giant machine• GOAL = improve society
Philosophes
• Intellectuals of the enlightenment• Goal was to improve society, change the
world, make it better.
John Locke
• “people are molded by experiences”• Natural rights “unalienable”• Purpose of gov. is to protect rights
Montesquieu
• Separation of powers – “checks & balances”
• No one person has too much power
Voltaire
• Religious toleration• Deism – God is a clockmaker, set the
world in motion and it runs on natural law
Diderot
• Most famous contribution was the Encyclopedia
Adam Smith
• The economy has its own natural law• Gov. should leave the economy alone• “Laissez-faire” – the state should not
interfere in economic matters
Beccaria
• Opposed capital punishment• Rehabilitate• “Is it not absurd, that the laws, which punish murder, should in order
to prevent murder, publicly commit murder themselves?”
Rousseau
• Social Contract – an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will
Mary Wollstonecraft
• Founder of modern “woman’s rights”• Woman have “reason” and therefore should
be equal to men• Her daughter was Mary Shelley. You may have heard of her. Do you
know what book she wrote? Hint: It has to do with mad science.
Mary Shelley wrote: