Scientific Revolution and The Enlightenment SSWH13 The student will examine the intellectual, political, social, and economic factors that changed the world view of Europeans. a. Explain the scientific contributions of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton and how these ideas changed the European world view. b. Identify the major ideas of the Enlightenment from the writings of Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau and their relationship to politics and society.

Scientific Revolution Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) First to discover heliocentrism His ideas weren’t challenged by the Catholic church except for one priest who claimed Copernicus was wrong Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Reconfirmed heliocentrism through his telescope His ideas were challenged, even though he came after Copernicus. He was put on house arrest by the Pope and forced to recant Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Mathmetician and astronomer whose theories provided basis for gravity His ideas weren’t challenged by the Catholic church largely because he lived in Germany and was Lutheran, but also because his views were mathematical. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) Invented laws of motion, gravity Father of modern physics His ideas weren’t challenged by the Catholic church all. He didn’t deal with heliocentrism. He was protestant in England, and his views were actually supported by the Royal society.

Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason) Late 1600’s to 1800 Enlightenment thinkers said “reason” and “ration” are the primary source for truth Like the Renaissance, it happened almost simultaneously in Europe Most new enlightenment ideas began with questioning the established governing system Enlightenment thinkers said man is able to govern himself Generally, they didn’t like absolute rulers More than 50 really important thinkers of that time Scientific progress convinced Europeans of the power of human reason. In the 1700s, other scientists expanded European knowledge.

The Enlightenment If people used reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws, or laws that governed human nature? Thus, the Scientific Revolution led to another revolution in thinking, which came to be known as the Enlightenment. Through the use of reason, people and governments could solve social, political, and economic problems.

Views of the Social Contract John Locke said people are reasonable and moral. they had certain natural rights, or rights that belonged to all humans from birth. These included the rights to life, liberty, and property. 

Views of the Social Contract He put these ideas in Two Treatises of Government People form governments to protect their natural rights. Best kind of government? limited power and was accepted by all citizens. A government, he said, has an obligation to the people it governs. If a government fails its obligations or violates people's natural rights, the people have the right to overthrow that government

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet took the name Voltaire. “My trade,” said Voltaire, “is to say what I think,” Battled inequality, injustice, and superstition. detested the slave trade and deplored religious prejudice.

Voltaire Candide – satirical work- critical of religious persecution, war & superstition Best type of government is enlightened despot an absolute monarch who was willing to use his authority to promote reform Strong believer in freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

Voltaire Advocate of Deism – the religious belief that God had created the universe and set it in motion to operate according to natural laws but no longer intervened in His creation What do you think about deism?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau The most controversial philosophe, Jean-Jacques Rousseau Rousseau believed people were basically good but were corrupted by the evils of society especially the unequal distribution of property.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract - “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” Some controls were necessary, but that they should be minimal. Controls should be imposed only by governments that had been freely elected – the concept of the will of the majority