The Scientific Revolution The Rise of Science (16 th – 18 th cents.) –The Ancient and Medieval...

The Scientific RevolutionThe Scientific Revolution

The Rise of Science (16The Rise of Science (16thth – 18 – 18thth cents.) cents.)– The Ancient and Medieval MindsetThe Ancient and Medieval Mindset

““Natural philosophy”Natural philosophy”

Dependent on Greco-Roman thinkersDependent on Greco-Roman thinkers

No clear-cut lines between science and No clear-cut lines between science and pseudosciencepseudoscience

Europe still very “religious” and “superstitious”Europe still very “religious” and “superstitious”

– Science became more “modern” (by 17Science became more “modern” (by 17 thth cent.) cent.)


Revolution in AstronomyRevolution in Astronomy– Ptolemaic TheoryPtolemaic Theory

Derived from Ptolemy Derived from Ptolemy (2(2ndnd cent.) cent.)The CosmosThe Cosmos

– Group of concentric Group of concentric spheresspheres

– GEOCENTRICGEOCENTRIC– Spheres revolve around Spheres revolve around

EarthEarth

Bible, human observation Bible, human observation “support” this“support” this

– Celestial bodies contain Celestial bodies contain “ether” “ether” perfect, perfect, incorruptible, immutable incorruptible, immutable


Nicolaus Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)(1473-1543)– Polish clericPolish cleric– Studied philosophy, law, Studied philosophy, law,

math, and sciencemath, and science– On the Revolutions of the On the Revolutions of the

Heavenly OrbsHeavenly Orbs (1543) (1543)Based on mathematicsBased on mathematicsProposed Proposed HELIOCENTRICHELIOCENTRIC universeuniverse

– Remained hypothesis Remained hypothesis initiallyinitially

Many astronomers Many astronomers hesitated to adopt ithesitated to adopt itMathematical concernsMathematical concerns


The Copernican system


Johann Kepler Johann Kepler (1570-1630)(1570-1630)– Court mathematician of Court mathematician of

emperoremperor– Provided mathematical Provided mathematical

confirmation for confirmation for Copernicus’s theoryCopernicus’s theory

– Taught Laws of Planetary Taught Laws of Planetary MotionMotion

Planets follow elliptical Planets follow elliptical orbits, not circularorbits, not circular

Distance and time of Distance and time of revolution in constant ratiorevolution in constant ratio


Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)(1564-1642)– Studied medicine, Studied medicine,

mechanics, mathematicsmechanics, mathematics– Professor at U. of PaduaProfessor at U. of Padua– Fascinated with astronomyFascinated with astronomy– Discoveries with telescope Discoveries with telescope

Imperfections on moonImperfections on moon

SunspotsSunspots– Demonstrate uniformity Demonstrate uniformity

between heavens and between heavens and EarthEarth


Galileo: Outspoken and Defiant Advocate of Copernican TheoryGalileo: Outspoken and Defiant Advocate of Copernican Theory– Asked to treat theory as hypothesis, not fact…Asked to treat theory as hypothesis, not fact…– Did not! Did not! summoned to Rome (1632), house arrest summoned to Rome (1632), house arrest– Trial before Inquisition (1633)Trial before Inquisition (1633)

Charged with challenging authority of Scripture Charged with challenging authority of Scripture heresy heresyAbjured Copernican theoryAbjured Copernican theoryPunishment: house arrest; daughter ended up saying penitential psalms in his steadPunishment: house arrest; daughter ended up saying penitential psalms in his stead

– Died within Catholic Church (1642)Died within Catholic Church (1642)


2009


Questions?Questions?


Further AdvancesFurther Advances– Physics: Law of GravityPhysics: Law of Gravity

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)1727)

Gravity: same force that Gravity: same force that holds object on Earth holds object on Earth holds planets in orbitsholds planets in orbits

– Chemistry: use chemicals Chemistry: use chemicals to treat diseaseto treat disease

Old theory: disease the Old theory: disease the result of imbalance in result of imbalance in humors humors bloodletting bloodletting

New proposition: use New proposition: use chemicals!chemicals!


Discoveries in BiologyDiscoveries in Biology– Human anatomyHuman anatomy

Dissect cadavers!Dissect cadavers!

– Blood circulation Blood circulation – Bacteria discovered Bacteria discovered

with microscope with microscope

Vesalius and students


The Scientific Revolution GeneralizedThe Scientific Revolution Generalized– ““THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD”THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD”

Popularized by Francis Bacon (1561-1626)Popularized by Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Empirical observation and experimentation Empirical observation and experimentation conclusionsconclusions

Inductive reasoning: let theories emerge only after Inductive reasoning: let theories emerge only after accumulation and analysis of dataaccumulation and analysis of data


Scientific Discoveries Scientific Discoveries Revolution in Thought Revolution in Thought – Old paradigms swept awayOld paradigms swept away

Humans no longer center of universeHumans no longer center of universeCosmos are orderly and mechanistic based on God’s designCosmos are orderly and mechanistic based on God’s design

– Faith in human reason Faith in human reason optimism optimism – Skepticism beginning to brew Skepticism beginning to brew need for need for evidenceevidence


John Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)– English writer, political English writer, political

theoristtheorist– People possess “natural People possess “natural

rights”: life, liberty, propertyrights”: life, liberty, property– Function of governmentFunction of government

Protect everyone’s rightsProtect everyone’s rights

Mutual contract between Mutual contract between ruler and ruledruler and ruled

Break in contract Break in contract ruled ruled have right to reconsider have right to reconsider ruler, even rebel!ruler, even rebel!


Questions?Questions?

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