Scientific Revolution

What WAS the Scientific Revolution What was revolutionary? What changed? Textbook Definition: The emergence of modern science using developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy and biology, which transformed views of society and nature. This era began toward the end of the (and was influenced by) the Renaissance, and continued through the 18th century. Highly influential to the Enlightenment, transferring thinking and processes to governmental institutions. Start and finish dates are disputed.

The Start of the era A natural start is 1543: Nicolaus Copernicus On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres first phase was mostly about challenging the established thinking, ending with Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632) The end of the era is usually marked by Isaac Newtown’s publication of Principia (1687) Laws of motion Laws of universal gravitation

Copernicus 1473-1543 – Polish Astronomer On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543) Used no special instruments Refuted the Ptolemaic system of Geocentric designed universe (with liquid spheres), in favor of… The Heliocentric design Copernican Revolution Seven Axioms Problems: his design didn’t really work mathematically He was condemned by the Church as blasphemous Ptolemaic model-3m Copernican model-3m

Tycho Brahe 1546-1601 – Danish researcher Leading astronomer of his age Friend to King of Denmark (noble) The king gave him an island and a castle Last “naked eye” astronomer He did use special instruments A strange man Had a pet moose Had a gold nose Died from an exploding bladder Tychonic Model Moon and sun revolved around the earth Five planets revolved around the sun Produced massive amounts of data Constructed instruments to observe planets

Johannes Kepler 1571-1630 – German astronomer The New Astronomy (1609) Built a powerful refractive telescope (convex lenses for wider view than Galileo’s version) Keplerian telescope Was a Neo-Platonist – made him a fanatical believer in Copernican model Used Brahe’s data Kepler’s model: All planets follow elliptical paths around sun Planets move faster when closer to sun Died of pneumonia while studying freezing of meat

Galileo Galilei 1564-1642 – Italian astronomer Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World (1632) This got him into trouble with the Pope High profile advocate of Copernican model (great speaker) Father of modern observational astronomy Father of modern physics Father of modern science Father of science Worked on gravity & engineering Devout Catholic Used telescope made by Dutch Court mathematician of Dude of Tuscany (Medici) Found guilty of heresy 1635 – house arrest (70 years old)

Isaac Newton 1642-1727 – astronomer Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy (1684) Considered one of the most important scientists EVER Father of physics Father of gravity Mutual attractions of all bodies in space LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION UNIVERSALITY OF THE UNIVERSE Synthesized mathematics, physics & astronomy

Francis Bacon 1561-1626 – philosopher, statesman, scientist Father of empiricism (collecting data) Attacked scholasticism Most truth has already been discovered, the rest will be very soon Gather information, then speculate “twisting the lion’s tail” Manipulate science to learn more about nature

Rene Descartes 1596-1650 – Philosopher & scientist Inventor of analytic geometry Rejected scholasticism Encouraged use of mathematics for proof Begin with doubt, construct sound arguments Father of deduction & modern philosophy Cartesian Dualism Everything can be reduced to mind and matter

Renee Descartes I have convinced myself that there is nothing in the world — no sky, no earth, no minds, no bodies. Doesn’t it follow that I don’t exist? No, surely I must exist if it’s me who is convinced of something. But there is a deceiver, supremely powerful and cunning whose aim is to see that I am always deceived. But surely I exist, if I am deceived. Let him deceive me all he can, he will never make it the case that I am nothing while I think that I am something. Thus having fully weighed every consideration, I must finally conclude that the statement “I am, I exist” (I THINK, THEREFOR I AM) must be true whenever I state it or mentally consider it. (Descartes, Meditation II: On the Nature of the Human Mind, Which Is Better Known Than the Body).

Renee Descartes I have convinced myself that there is nothing in the world — no sky, no earth, no minds, no bodies. Doesn’t it follow that I don’t exist? No, surely I must exist if it’s me who is convinced of something. But there is a deceiver, supremely powerful and cunning whose aim is to see that I am always deceived. But surely I exist, if I am deceived. Let him deceive me all he can, he will never make it the case that I am nothing while I think that I am something. Thus having fully weighed every consideration, I must finally conclude that the statement “I am, I exist” (I THINK, THEREFOR I AM) must be true whenever I state it or mentally consider it. (Descartes, Meditation II: On the Nature of the Human Mind, Which Is Better Known Than the Body).

Questions to ponder… Looking at the passage, what can we conclude is Descartes’ first impression of self? What is it that convinces him that he DOES, in fact, exist? Since Descartes is existing in a world which is very religious, who might the deceiver be? Conclusion “I Think, Therefore I am”  A deceiver can’t deceive me of my existence, for if he were I wouldn’t exist! Descartes a favor folks and keep thinking, lest you may cease to exist!