The Scientific Revolution
Scientific Revolution -def. - The search for a secular,
scientific method of determining the laws of nature using
experimental observation and mathematical deduction
- Nicolaus Copernicus(1473-1543) - a clergyman who attacked
Ptolemaic (geocentric) model of the cosmos - claimed heliocentric
view simplified the mathematics needed to explain celestial
motion
-Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) - burned at the stake by the Catholic
Church for teaching heliocentrism
-Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) - provided mathematical backing for
the heliocentric theory - 3 Laws of Planetary Motion - cited that
planetary orbits were elliptical, not circular
-Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) - built an improved telescope - viewed
moons of Jupiter to add evidence to heliocentric view - tried &
imprisoned by the Inquisition
Newton & Consolidation of the Scientific Revolution
Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
- invented calculus to explain planetary motion
- * Principia Mathematica - published his law of
universal gravitation- explained Kepler’s elliptical orbits
- believed that the laws
of nature were like
clockwork & were
created by God - saw no
conflict between science
and faith
THE PHILOSOPHES
Voltaire
Montesquieu
Rousseau
Philosophes - public intellectuals dedicated to solving the
problems of the World
- wrote for a broad, educated public audience
- fought to eradicate bigotry, religious fanaticism,
superstition
- promoted “Natural Rights” – political and intellectual
freedom, freedom of the press and religion, human
progress
- spread their ideas through books, essays, letters
pamphlets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xd_zkMEgkI
VOLTAIRE
AKA -Francois-Marie Arouet - a deist
Philosophical Dictionary - attacked organized Christianity
as a source of fanaticism and brutality among humans
- champion of religious toleration &
free speech
- His motto - “Crush the infamous thing!” (the thing was
bigotry and ignorance)
MONTISQUIEU
- Attacked Absolutism - called it “despotism”
- promoted idea of Separation of Powers to prevent
abuses in government
- admired English Constitutionalism
-SPIRIT OF THE LAWS - opposed divine
right of kings and absolutism, inspired
American constitutionalism
Denis Diderot &The Encyclopedia:
- Diderot compiled over 71,000 essays
of Enlightenment thought into a
26-volume set
- He promoted the application of
science to address all of humanity’s
problems
- Included articles politics, social order,
economics, taxes, religion
- The Encyclopedia was banned for by French gov’t for attacking
tradition, religion, morals, and promoting materialism
CESARE BECCARIA: ON CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
- A critic of arbitrary power and promoter of human rights
- Challenged the legal basis and use of torture & death penalty
- Promoted religious toleration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g
Magic & Witchcraft
- belief in them coincided w/ the scientific revolution
- many scientific thinkers still believed in alchemy, astrology, etc.
Witchcraft trials - state & religious authorities turned to public trialsthey reflected the anxiety of society in the face of economic crisis,
plague, warfare, political uncertainty
- most prevalent in Germany during 30 Yrs. War
- over 100,000 trials in Europe & North America in
16th & 17th centuries
- declined only when the elite discredited the belief &
therefore refused to hold trials - most commoners still
held the superstition
PHYSIOCRATS
- Early political economists - sought to explain the
relationship between commerce and people and gov’t
- Adam Smith - English economist
who promoted capitalism
- laissez-faire - “leave alone” gov’t should not interfere in
business
- wrote Wealth of Nations