The scientific revolution

Index New Scientific Methods The Royal Society The Royal Society today Newton’s view of the universe

New Scientific Methods The concept of method came from Socrates (ca BC). The Socratic method was applied in philosophical conversation. It was used to crarify thinking on etics and on olitics. There were three approaches to the study of phenomena in nature: The DEDUCTIVE METHOD, that employed logic, mathematics and geometry, in which the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. The EXPERIMENTAL METHOD, that was applied to physics, chemistry and biology. It is founded on the formulation of hypotheses and their verification through experience. The METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION, that is typical of biology and it is based on placing an organism into a group according to its biochemical, anatomical and physiological characteristics.

New Scientific Methods The scientific method has been alsoestablished by the activities of Galileo Galileo ( ) and Johannes Kepler ( ) Predictions are tested by experiments or further observation and finally there is the clarification of the teory concerning the phenomena. It moves from the particular to the universal.

The Royal Society It was founded in 1662 in London whit King Charles II’s patronage. The motto of the Society, “nullius in verba”, was a direct challenge to the dependence of the old philosophy on written authorities. It was from 1660 onwards that some of the typical traits of the English character began to emerge: A materialistic and pratical mind, tolerance, reasonableness and common sense. These traits were to become the key words of the 18th century.

The Royal Society today The Royal Society is a fellowship of the world’s preeminent scientists. It is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existance. It aims to expand the frontiers of knowledge by the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity and the good of the planet. Today there are Fellows and Foreign Menmers. The Society has three roles: It is the UK’s academy of science, promoting the natural and applied sciences It is a learned society It is a funding agency.

Newton’s view of the universe The most widely change in 17th and 18th century Euroep was the “scientific revolution”. It was a series of changes in the structure of European thought itself. There were three sides in the debate concerning the proper scientific method: The Aristotelians, who tried to build their system by logical arguments starting from a few basic premises. Francis Bacon’s school, who favoured the inductive method. Bacon argued that the scientist should collect all the data possible through experimentation and observation. The mathematical, deductive approach.

Newton’s view of the universe From Isaac Newton’s “The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy emerges the mechanical univeerse. In the book Newton argued that the universe could be explained through the use of mathematics. Religion or theology were no longer needed to explain any physical phenomena of the universe Newton based his view of the universe on the concept of inertia. Galileo trained his new optical device on the stars and discoverd new world, with the use of the microscope.

Work done by Cisilino Francesca