Chapter 16: The Scientific Revolution. By: Nick Toupin

Key Individuals. Copernicus- Presented a heliocentric universal view rather than the traditional geocentric view. Brahe and Keppler- Conducted research and experiments in order to further support Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. Galileo- The first European to make systematic observations of the heavens via telescope. Furthermore, he observed that heavenly bodies seemed to be made up of materials similar to that of Earth, not some magical, ethereal material. Newton- Made large headway in various areas of mathematics, such as calculus and physics. Paracelsus- Rejected the traditional theories of medicine and physiology and adopted forward thinking ideals such as the microcosm-macrocosm analogy. Also, pioneered the way for chemical remedies.

Key Individuals. (cont.) Vesalius- Created the first modern textbook of anatomy where he offered relatively detailed diagrams and cross sections of the human body and it’s organs. Harvey- The first to really take a stark opposition against the old conventional medical statutes. He proposed that it was the heart and not the liver that pumped blood, the same blood flows in veins and arteries, and blood makes a complete circuit as it passes through the body. Cavendish- One of the first lady scientists. Descartes- “ I think, therefore I am.” This quotation from Descartes perfectly sums up his world view and new philosophy that will come to dominate western thinking. Descartes put an emphasis on the mind and said that “ he would accept only those things that his reason said were true.” The father of modern Rationalism. Separation of mind and matter.

Key individuals. (cont.) Bacon- Came up with the scientific method. Spinoza- Rejected Descartes way of thinking. He believed that to separate the mind and matter one would separate themselves from God, who he believed was literally the universe. Pascal- Tried to find a happy medium between religion and science. Tried to convert rationalists to Christianity. Claimed that logic and reason mislead people and Christianity was the answer.

Key Events I am just mortified to report that there really aren’t any key events to be named in this chapter. This chapter is less about any physical revolutions but more about the evolution of science and philosophy in a given time period. (mid 1500s- early 1700s)

Abstracts Rationalism Revolutions in astronomy Heliocentricity Logic and reason The scientific method Slightly more respect for women in scientific roles. I mean slightly. Advances in medicine Religious friction Scientific societies

Key Themes and Movements. Descartes’ philosophy- Placed an emphasis and confidence on the human mind. He upheld that logic and reason are the only forces to be trusted. (a clear opposition to religion, which dominated just about everyone’s way of thinking.) Furthermore, Descartes asserted that the mind and any other matter were fundamentally separate and unrelated. He believed that a man only existed in his mind. This philosophy led the way for much stark scientific discovery. The separation of mind and matter allowed scientists to view matter as dead or inert and something that was totally separate from themselves. Thus anything could be investigated independently with reason.

Cultural and Intellectual Movements. Scientific Revolution- European intellectuals began to take a large interest in the world around them and began on a search for knowledge. The “natural philosophy” of the middle ages evolved from a system of observation and conclusion into systematic analysis governed by logic and reason. Headway for Women- Women were slightly more respected as intellectuals. Let us remember that this is the seventeenth century. It is important to note that all of the changes going on in this chapter are really only affecting a small percentage of people in the time period. Like 97% of people were peasants and would have no access to this type of thinking.

Necessities Descartes’ philosophy New Western thinking Scientific discovery Emphasis on the individual Less emphasis on religion