The Scientific Revolution
Key Concepts
I. The Aristotelian Universe

Based on Ptolemy,
Aristotle, and Plato
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Christianized
347 B.C. – 168 A.D.
Earth = Living, Protected
Sphere
Views accepted because
they were what people
saw in nature
II. Scientific “Revolutionaries”
A. Copernicus (1473-1543)

Pro-Church
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Sun-centered universe
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Wanted to glorify God
Heliocentric theory
Challenged circular orbits
On the Revolutions of the
Heavenly Spheres (1543)

Presents his theories
B. Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

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Most sophisticated
observatory of his day
Remained an
Aristotelian
Discovered comet
shooting right
through crystalline
spheres

Not a phenomenon
C. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)

Student of Brahe
Planetary motion
conforms to
mathematical formula

Elliptical orbits

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Planets do not move
at the same speeds
D. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
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Early practitioner of the
experimental method
Mathematical formula for
acceleration of falling
objects
Law of inertia
Perfected the telescope

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Used in his discoveries
Confirmed Copernicus’
theory
Challenges old
philosophers
Put on trial by the Church
E. Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
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Discovers Gravity
Invents Calculus
Universe governed by
natural laws

Laws of Motion
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1st – Inertia
2nd - Force and Mass
3rd – Action/Reaction
Principia; Mathematical
Principles of Natural
Philosophy (1687)
F. Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

The Inductive Method

Premises provide
strong evidence for
the conclusion

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Probable, but not
absolute
Emphasis on practical,
useful knowledge
G. Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

The Deductive
Method

Starts with a
hypothesis that is
tested to reach a
conclusion

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Proof is absolute
Father of “analytical
geometry”
III. Causes of the Scientific
Revolution
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Medieval Intellectual Life
The Italian Renaissance
Renewed emphasis on
mathematics
Renaissance system of
patronage

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Rulers support research
and arts
Navigational problems of
long sea voyages
Better scientific
instruments
IV. Consequences of the Scientific
Revolution

Rise of the “Scientific
Community”

Academy of Royal
Sciences (1666)
The modern scientific
method
A universe ordered
according to natural laws
and logic

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Royal Society of London
(1662)
IV. Consequences of the Scientific
Revolution (cont)
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Laws discovered by
human reason
Mechanical View of the
Universe
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Works like a clock
Demystified
Deistic View of God

God created the world and
stepped back as an
observer