A revolution? Or a gradual change over time in the
way in the ways in which humans understand the
physical universe?
Is there an beginning and an end????
Copernicus (1543) – Newton (1687)
Characterized by the use of the scientific method
to determine laws of nature
Undermined traditional accounts
MIDDLE AGES: Universities studies in
philosophy, medicine, astronomy, physics, and
mathematics
RENAISSANCE: Emphasis on the classics, rational
critical thinking, patronage of scientists,
REFORMATION: Uncertainty secular alternatives
EXPLORATION: Navigational problems of long
voyages, need for better instruments – telescope,
barometer, thermometer, pendulum clock,
microscope
WHY DID THIS MONUMENTOUS CHANGE
OCCUR?
HOW DID THIS NEW WORLD-VIEW AFFECT
THE WAY PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT SOCIETY
AND HUMAN RELATIONS?
WHAT IMPACT DID THIS NEW WAY OF THINKIG
HAVE ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND
MONARCHIAL ABSOLUTISM?
Magic
Religion
Science
PURPOSE: theory to explain the forces that operate
behind and within the commonsense world
Modern western thought separates the three
Prior to the Scientific Revolution all three were closely
related
Many people believed in astrology, magical healing,
prophecy, and ghosts
ALCHEMY – Process of transforming
base metals
Nicholas Flamel (1330-1417)
Creator of a magical stone
Experiments with metals developed
what scientific development/branch
today?
POTIONS – herbology – study of
plants – uses (Botony)
MAGICAL CREATURES – body a
microcosm of nature and therefore
needed substances from earth to
maintain good health – Paracelsus
(1493-1541)
Connection between
humanity and the
surrounding world
essential to the
practice of medicine
Link between human
life and the heavens
Cornerstone of
Astrology – alignment
of the planets
Peak 1560-1640
Blamed for destroying crops,
miscarriages, madness
Official persecution by the State
Economic crisis, religious
differences, warfare, plague
Witches = outlet, scapegoat for
social stress and anxiety
80% of the 100,000 trials were
women?
Many Scientists were clerics
Over time the role of religious thinking in the
pursuit of knowledge was substantially reduced
Christian doctrine incorporated the ancient
philosophers : Ptolemy and Aristotle in their
teachings
New revolutionary ideas gave SCIENCE prestige?
Explanations of the universe
Greek Philosopher
Ideas – Astronomy and
Physics accepted for 2000
years
Motionless earth fixed at the
center of the universe
Beyond the five known
planets was Heaven
Angels kept the spheres
moving in perfect circles
Science a branch of theology
Greek Philosopher
Geo-centric theory
Planets revolved around the
earth at the command of God
Sun revolved around the
earth (perfect circles)
Heavens were perfect and
unchanging
Earth was “corrupted”
Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)
Polish Clergyman
On the Revolution of Celestial
Spheres (1543)
Scientific revolution begins
Helio-centric – Sun centered
universe
Planets revolve around the sun
Perfect circles
1st challenge to the Ptolemaic view
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) Danish Astronomer
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Brahe’s assistant
Planetary observations
Mathematics
Three laws of planetary motion (1609-1619)
Challenged circular motions
1st law – orbits of the planets are ellipses
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Provided more evidence for
heliocentrism
Dialogue Concerning the Two
Chief World Systems (1632)
Improved the telescope
Observed the moon, Jupiter, Venus
Publish findings in “Italian”
New science for “the minds of the
wise”
Inquisition (1633)
Advancements made in anatomy
Galen (c. 130-c 200) – Greek
Physician
Relied on animal dissections to
derive picture of human anatomy
Two separate blood systems:
One controlled muscular activity –
bright red and move up and down
through arteries
One controlled digestive functions –
dark red blood ebbed and flowed
through the veins
Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) –
Flemish Scientist
On the Fabric of the Human
Body (1543)
Refuted errors by Galen
Blood vessels originated from the
heart not the liver
Dedicated to Charles V (r. 1515-1556)
William Harvey (1578-1657) –
English Physician
On the Motions of the Heart
and Blood (1628)
Demolished theories by Galen
The heart not the liver
beginning point of circulation of
blood
Same blood in veins and arteries
Foundations of modern
physiology
Two men responsible 1630’s as the
European intellectuals began to accept
the new scientific views
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English
Protestant politician
René Descartes (1596-1650) French
Catholic, mathematician, philosopher
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
The Advancement of Learning (1605)
Inductive reasoning based on
observation and experimental research
(EMPIRICISM)
Scientific method would lead to social
progress
Advancement through the collection,
comparison, and analysis of
information
“Knowledge is Power”
René Descartes (1596-1650)
Deductive reasoning and self-evident
principles
Mathematics and Logic
Discourse on Method (1637)
Mathematical and mechanical
principles key to understanding
nature
One elementary principle “I think,
therefore I am”
Everything else doubted
Power of the scientific method confirmed
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English Natural philosopher,
alchemist
Studied mathematics, mechanics, and optics
Principia Mathematica (1687) - law of universal gravitation
Newtonian physics – mass, inertia, force, velocity,
acceleration
Calculus / Gottfried Leibnitz (1646-1716)
Universe operated like a masterpiece made possible by the
ingenuity of God
Natural philosopher s could prove the existence of GOD
Women excluded from
universities
Noble women exposed to world of
learning through fathers, brothers
Excluded from membership to
ROYAL SOCIETY (1660)
Learned society in England –
place for research and discussion
Most prominent female scientists
Margaret Cavendish (1623-1674) –
English aristocrat
Duchess of Newcastle
Only 17th women to publish books
on natural philosophy
Observations upon Experimental
Philosophy (1666)
Permitted to debate at England’s
Royal Society but not allowed to be a
member
Maria Winkelmann (16701720)
German Astronomer
Married to Gottfried Kirch –
Germany’s foremost astronomer
Discovered a comet in 1702
Denied membership to The
Royal Academy of the
Sciences
New view of the universe – the world is not random
and chaotic
New sense of self-confidence – mastery of our own
fate, better understanding of the mysteries that
surround us
Increasing Literacy
Scientific Method the standard for truth
IDEA OF PROGRESS
Lays the foundation for modern science, Alchemy
replaced by Chemistry, Astrology replaced by
Astronomy, Physics, Calculus, Anatomy