A Scientific & Intellectual Revolution “THE AGE OF REASON”

A Scientific & Intellectual A Scientific & Intellectual RevolutionRevolution

““THE AGE OF REASON”THE AGE OF REASON”

Foundation in the RenaissanceFoundation in the Renaissance

Search for truth in science; scientific Search for truth in science; scientific progressprogress

Renaissance artists contributed by Renaissance artists contributed by close attention to detail; focus on close attention to detail; focus on perspective and proportionsperspective and proportions

Printing press helped spread ideasPrinting press helped spread ideas Built upon writings of Greeks & Built upon writings of Greeks &

Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Ptolemy)Ptolemy)

Foundation cont.Foundation cont.

Developed the scientific method of Developed the scientific method of observation and experimentationobservation and experimentation

Challenged medieval superstitionChallenged medieval superstition Uncovered much knowledge of the Uncovered much knowledge of the

physical world (new technology – physical world (new technology – telescope, microscope)telescope, microscope)

AchievementsAchievements

PtolemyPtolemy – Greek scientist – Greek scientist Geocentric TheoryGeocentric Theory Earth is center of universe, planets revolve Earth is center of universe, planets revolve

around eartharound earth CopernicusCopernicus - Polish astronomer - Polish astronomer

Heliocentric Heliocentric TheoryTheory The sun is the center of the solar system The sun is the center of the solar system

((heliocentricheliocentric)) The earth revolves around the sun on its The earth revolves around the sun on its axisaxis Disproved Ptolemy’s theoryDisproved Ptolemy’s theory

Achievements cont.Achievements cont.

KeplerKepler – German astronomer & – German astronomer & mathematicianmathematician Laws of Laws of planetary motionplanetary motion However, planets follow an However, planets follow an ellipticalelliptical

(oval) not circular orbit in revolving (oval) not circular orbit in revolving around the sunaround the sun


GalileoGalileo – Italian astronomer and – Italian astronomer and physicistphysicist Greatly improved the Greatly improved the telescopetelescope Further Further confirmed Copernican confirmed Copernican theorytheory Also found mountains, several moons Also found mountains, several moons

around Jupiter, sunspots, etc.around Jupiter, sunspots, etc. Found himself increasingly under suspicion Found himself increasingly under suspicion

by the Catholic Church; house arrestby the Catholic Church; house arrest First First thermometerthermometer


NewtonNewton – English mathematician, – English mathematician, astronomer, physicistastronomer, physicist Calculated the Calculated the law of motion and gravitylaw of motion and gravity Invented mathematical analysis called Invented mathematical analysis called

calculuscalculus Discovered laws of Discovered laws of light and colorlight and color

Achievements contAchievements cont

Boyle Boyle – English chemist– English chemist Discovered the law of Discovered the law of gases gases that is that is

fundamental to fundamental to modern chemistrymodern chemistry LeeuwenhoekLeeuwenhoek – Dutch naturalist – Dutch naturalist

Perfected the Perfected the microscopemicroscope MicroorganismsMicroorganisms Studied the previously invisible world of Studied the previously invisible world of

bacteria, protozoa, animal and plant bacteria, protozoa, animal and plant cellscells


VesaliusVesalius – Flemish physician – Flemish physician Dissections of the human bodyDissections of the human body Founded the science of Founded the science of anatomyanatomy

Harvey Harvey – English physician– English physician Demonstrated that Demonstrated that blood circulates blood circulates

through the bodythrough the body Heart pumps bloodHeart pumps blood Furthered the study of medicineFurthered the study of medicine

Achievements, cont.Achievements, cont.

Sir Francis Sir Francis BaconBacon Developed Developed scientific methodscientific method Use of Use of reasonreason in research in research

Louis Louis PasteurPasteur Use of heat to kill organismsUse of heat to kill organisms Pasteurization of milkPasteurization of milk

Edward JennerEdward Jenner Smallpox vaccineSmallpox vaccine Smallpox has been eradicatedSmallpox has been eradicated



Gregor Gregor MendelMendel Founder of science of Founder of science of geneticsgenetics Recognized inheritance of certain traitsRecognized inheritance of certain traits

Carl Carl LinnaeusLinnaeus System of System of classifying living things classifying living things into into

groupsgroups Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order,

Family, Genus, SpeciesFamily, Genus, Species

Achievements (women) cont.Achievements (women) cont.

Margaret Cavendish Margaret Cavendish – German – German scientist; proposed “other worlds,” scientist; proposed “other worlds,” proposed education for womenproposed education for women

Maria Winkelmann Maria Winkelmann – discovered a – discovered a comet, weather observationscomet, weather observations

No women invited to the academies No women invited to the academies (Royal Society of England, French (Royal Society of England, French Academy of Science)Academy of Science)

Little changed about roles of womenLittle changed about roles of women

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

Intellectual movement based in the Intellectual movement based in the scientific revolutionscientific revolution

Focus on Focus on reason reason Could apply the scientific method to Could apply the scientific method to

understanding of all lifeunderstanding of all life Began to apply reason to governmentsBegan to apply reason to governments Following natural law would lead to Following natural law would lead to

progressprogress

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes

Intellectuals known by this name but Intellectuals known by this name but not all were Frenchnot all were French

Literary people, professors, Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political journalists, economists, political scientists, social reformersscientists, social reformers

Came from all classesCame from all classes An international movementAn international movement Rational criticism could be applied to Rational criticism could be applied to

everythingeverything

Contributions cont.Contributions cont.

Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal – sought to keep science – sought to keep science and religion together; not mutually and religion together; not mutually exclusiveexclusive

But trend to secularization (seeing the But trend to secularization (seeing the world as material not spiritual)world as material not spiritual)

Scientific Method Scientific Method – a reasonable way to – a reasonable way to understand nature & solve problems; understand nature & solve problems; step by step proceduresstep by step procedures

Francis Bacon Francis Bacon – father of the scientific – father of the scientific method; inductive principles – from method; inductive principles – from specifics to general conclusionsspecifics to general conclusions

ContributionsContributions

Rene DescartesRene Descartes – – Discourse on MethodDiscourse on Method Idea of “doubt”Idea of “doubt” Supported only those things that reason Supported only those things that reason

said were true; said were true; rejects assumptionsrejects assumptions ““I think, therefore I am”I think, therefore I am” Rationalism Rationalism – use the mind or reason to – use the mind or reason to

understand the worldunderstand the world Scientific method alsoScientific method also Developed Developed analytical geometryanalytical geometry


John Locke John Locke – – every person is born a every person is born a tabula rasatabula rasa (blank slate); (blank slate); knowledge from environment, not heredityknowledge from environment, not heredity

Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government1. People possess 1. People possess natural rights natural rights of life, liberty & of life, liberty & propertyproperty

2. Governments exist by the 2. Governments exist by the consent consent of the governed of the governed (i.e. the PEOPLE put them there)(i.e. the PEOPLE put them there)

3. Governments are to 3. Governments are to protect these rightsprotect these rights

4. The people 4. The people may replace a government may replace a government that fails to that fails to protect these rightsprotect these rights

*Basis for the Declaration of Independence & Bill of *Basis for the Declaration of Independence & Bill of RightsRights


Montesquieu – Montesquieu – The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws Separation of Powers into 3 BranchesSeparation of Powers into 3 Branches – –

WHY?WHY?

1. Legislative – 1. Legislative – makesmakes laws laws

2. Executive – 2. Executive – enforcesenforces (executes) laws (executes) laws

3. Judicial – 3. Judicial – interpretsinterprets laws laws Checks and balances Checks and balances – each branch limited – each branch limited

and controlled the others (examples?)and controlled the others (examples?) Basis for the U.S. ConstitutionBasis for the U.S. Constitution


VoltaireVoltaire - writer, - writer, CandideCandide RationalistRationalist; Criticized Church but favored ; Criticized Church but favored

religious tolerance (deist); religious tolerance (deist); free speech;free speech; hated hated prejudice and superstitionprejudice and superstition

Deism Deism – god was the creator but the universe – god was the creator but the universe then ran according to natural laws and forces then ran according to natural laws and forces (combines secular and non-secular)(combines secular and non-secular)

Denis Diderot Denis Diderot – strongly criticized Christianity – strongly criticized Christianity (“fanatical and unreasonable”); wrote a vast (“fanatical and unreasonable”); wrote a vast EncyclopediaEncyclopedia of science, arts, etc. of science, arts, etc.


RousseauRousseau - - The Social ContractThe Social Contract 1.1. Society agreed to be governed;Society agreed to be governed;

2.2. Individuals must abide by the Individuals must abide by the majority (popular sovereignty)majority (popular sovereignty)

EmileEmile – focused on importance of – focused on importance of educationeducation – should foster, rather – should foster, rather than restrict children’s natural than restrict children’s natural instinctsinstincts


Cesar Beccaria, Cesar Beccaria, On Crimes and On Crimes and PunishmentsPunishments

Focused on justice system:Focused on justice system: Criticized torture, cruelty, Criticized torture, cruelty, capital capital

punishmentpunishment Criticized irregular and slow trialsCriticized irregular and slow trials Where do we see these things Where do we see these things

addressed in our country today?addressed in our country today?


Thomas Hobbes – Thomas Hobbes – LeviathanLeviathan Man is inherently greedy, cruel, selfishMan is inherently greedy, cruel, selfish Strong government needed to control Strong government needed to control

man’s natural impulsesman’s natural impulses Social Contract Social Contract – People would give up – People would give up

freedoms for the safety of organized freedoms for the safety of organized societysociety

Supported idea of absolutismSupported idea of absolutism*** *** ***unlike other philosophes***unlike other philosophes

Other contributionsOther contributions

Adam Smith – Adam Smith – The Wealth of NationsThe Wealth of Nations1. Natural law should apply to the 1. Natural law should apply to the economyeconomy2. People should pursue their own 2. People should pursue their own economic self-interestseconomic self-interests3. Government should protect society, 3. Government should protect society, defend its citizens, keep up public works defend its citizens, keep up public works but **leave the economy alone - but **leave the economy alone - laissez laissez fairefaire (hands off) (hands off)*Foundation of *Foundation of capitalismcapitalism

Women in the EnlightenmentWomen in the Enlightenment

Mary Wollstonecraft - Mary Wollstonecraft - A Vindication of the A Vindication of the Rights of WomenRights of Women

Feminism (Feminism (women’s rights) - Criticized women’s rights) - Criticized men who said governments have too men who said governments have too much power over people – same as men much power over people – same as men having too much power over womenhaving too much power over women

Enlightenment is based on reason; if Enlightenment is based on reason; if women have reason, they should have the women have reason, they should have the same rights as mensame rights as men

SalonsSalons – elegant rooms where – elegant rooms where philosophers men, discussed, socializedphilosophers men, discussed, socialized

A Scientific & Intellectual Revolution “THE AGE OF REASON”

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