The Scientific Revolution

Causes of the Scientific Revolution The voyages of discovery and colonization Ancient & Medieval works translated into Latin, then vernacular languages New inventions & institutions that promoted sharing of knowledge

Aristotle Old Belief: the world is flat, covered by a bowl above New Theory: Geocentric Theory – the world is round, and is the center of the universe Findings: Uses logical reasoning Reactions: affirms religious teachings Impact: theories last for over 1,000 years

Nicolaus Copernicus Old Belief: Geocentric theory New Theory: Heliocentric Theory – the sun is at the center of the universe Findings: Maps the sky for 20 years Reactions: Disbelief and outrage – “this goes against the church’s teachings!” Impact: Father of modern Astronomy

Tycho Brahe & Johannes Kepler Old Belief: Geocentric theory (perfectly circular orbits, universe never changes) New Theory: Geo-Heliocentric theory, elliptical orbits, universe is changing Findings: View a supernova, use complex mathematics to prove theory Reactions: Disbelief Impact: No credit until after death

Galileo Galilei Old Belief: Geocentric theory, universe is perfect & unchanging New Belief: Universe is imperfect & changing Findings: Creates telescope to view the heavens Reactions: Attacked by the Inquisition – spends rest of life under house arrest Impact: Discovery of Jupiter’s moons, sun spots, and visual proof of Helocentricity

Isaac Newton Old Belief: Geocentric theory, spirits control the movement of heavenly bodies New Belief: Heliocentric theory, gravity Findings: Complex mathematics prove Newton’s “3 laws” Reactions: wide-spread acceptance Impact: Father of engineering and physics

Rene Descartes Old Belief: Math and philosophy should be separate sciences New Belief: Math and philosophy can be used together to do amazing things Everything should be questioned Findings: Cartesian coordinates, no limits to God’s creation Reactions: Math was controversial, but logical reasoning was supported Impact: Father of Geometry and Western Philosophy

Francis Bacon Old Belief: logic and reason are sufficient to prove a scientific belief New Belief: experimentation is necessary to prove a theory Findings: creates the Scientific Method Reactions: ignored by Queen Elizabeth, but knighted by James I Impact: father of “empiricism” – knowledge can only come from experimentation

Galen of Pergamum Old Belief: Body is controlled by spirits and humors New Belief: Body can be understood through examination Findings: Dissection of animals to learn about human body Reactions: Acceptance – God made all of us after all Impact: Founder of anatomy – theories untested for over 1,000 years!

Andreas Vesalius Old Belief: Dissection of bodies is a sin New Belief: Human dissection is essential to medicine Findings: Dissected human corpses to prove theories Reactions: Acceptance – can’t argue with physical evidence Impact: Founder of modern science of anatomy and physiology

William Harvey Old Belief: Food is turned into blood in the heart New Belief: The heart constantly recycles the same blood Findings: Observed a still-beating heart Reactions: Many unwilling to accept his theories Impact: Father of physiology – how the body works Capacity of heart =1.5 ounces Each pump = , 1/8 of blood expelled. Estimates 1/6 oz. of blood went through heart each pump Estimates heart beats 1000 times every 30 mins This would require 10 pounds 6 ounces of blood to be created in 30 mins Liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood in a day.