THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain how the scientific world influenced society and thought.
Scientific Revolution
• Background:– Challenging Old Ideas: Revolutions
• 1. Renaissance challenged the notion that only the Church had the right answers. New Idea: the individual. A cultural revolution
• 2. Reformation challenged accepted religious ideas on God, salvation and the soul. It also challenged the notion of one church and Papal control. A religious revolution
• 3. Scholars began to question old accepted ideas about the Earth and universe: Scientific Revolution
Scientific Revolution
• Background:– Prior to 1500’s… truth regarding the functioning of
the Earth and universe, most scholars relied on Greek and Roman philosophers/scientists and the Bible.
• Most did not test these ideas for their correctness.
– By the mid-1500’s this changed. Scholars began to test and question the ancient thinkers.
• Old assumptions became replaced with new theories.• This led to a change in the way people thought: Scientific
Revolution.
►Literacy: 80% for men; 60% women.
►Books were expensive (one day’s wages).
►Many readers for each book (20 : 1) novels, plays & other literature.
journals, memoirs, “private lives.”
philosophy, history, theology.
newspapers, political pamphlets.
COPERNICUS
• Polish scholar • Proposed the idea
of a heliocentric or sun-centered universe – The Earth was one
of several planets to revolve around the sun
Models of the Universe:
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Geocentric: the Earth is at the center of the universe; all heavenly bodies move around the Earth
Heliocentric: the Sun is at the center of the universe; all heavenly bodies move around the Sun—including the Earth
GALILEO
• Observed Jupiter’s moons orbiting that planet
• Condemned by the Catholic Church
• His ideas challenged Christian teachings – That heavens were
fixed, unmoving & perfect
GALILEO FACING AN INQUISITION
• 1633- tried before the inquisition – Threatened with
excommunication unless he withdrew his heresies
• Agreed to state publicly that the Earth stood motionless at center of the universe
SIR ISSAC NEWTON
• Proved Galileo correct
• Defined the Law of Gravity
• Invented calculus• His laws became the
starting point for investigating everything in nature.
Scientific Revolution--Enlightenment
• Rene Descartes: mid-1600’s:– French Philosopher and scientist – One of the most influential
advocates of science.– Wrote: “Discourse on Method”:
Argued that all thought had to follow the clear, orderly progression of scientific reasoning. Everything has to be proved.
– The use of reason was vital: clear, rational, logical thinking.
Scientific Revolution-----Enlightenment
• Sir Francis Bacon:– Believed science would help
humanity conquer nature and would end all suffering in the world.
• The scientific method will move from a strict scientific use to all realms of thinking including political, social.
