The Scientific Revolution Key Concepts / People

Copernicus ( ) Aim to glorify God Aim to glorify God Sun-centered universe Sun-centered universe Challenged circular orbits Challenged circular orbits Universe of staggering size Universe of staggering size Earth no different than any other planet Earth no different than any other planet On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543) On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)

Galileo Galilei ( ) Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer who built upon the scientific foundations laid by Copernicus and Kepler. He also observed four moons rotating around Jupiter – exactly the way Copernicus said the Earth rotated around the sun. Galileo assembled the first telescope which allowed him to see mountains on the moon and fiery spots on the sun. Galileo also discovered that objects fall at the same speed regardless of weight.

Galileo Galilei Galileo’s discoveries caused an uproar. Other scholars came against him because like Copernicus, Galileo was contradicting Ptolemy. The Church came against Galileo because it claimed that the Earth was fixed and unmoving. When threatened with death before the Inquisition in 1633, Galileo recanted his beliefs, even though he knew the Earth moved. Galileo was put under house arrest, and was not allowed to publish his ideas.

Sir Isaac Newton was an English scholar who built upon the work of Copernicus and Galileo. Isaac Newton ( ) He used math to prove the existence of gravity - a force that kept planets in their orbits around the sun, and also caused objects to fall towards the earth. Newton was the most influential scientist of the Scientific Revolution.

Francis Bacon ( ) Francis Bacon was an English philosopher who wrote Advancement of Learning. Bacon popularized the scientific method and used it with philosophy and knowledge. Bacon argued that truth could not be known at the beginning of a question, but only at the end after a long process of investigation.

Descartes was a French scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. Descartes emphasized human reasoning as the best road to understanding. Like Bacon, Descartes also believed that truth was only found after a long process of studying and investigation. “I think, therefore I am” Rene Descartes ( )

In the 1600s Robert Boyle distinguished between individual elements and chemical compounds. First argued that the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure, a principle today known as Boyle’s Law. Boyle was heavily influenced by mechanical philosophy, the idea that everything in the universe can be explained by mechanical interactions (e.g. collisions, pushing, pulling, etc.) between particles. Chemistry Robert Boyle

Causes of the Scientific Revolution Medieval Intellectual Life and Medieval Universities Medieval Intellectual Life and Medieval Universities The Italian Renaissance The Italian Renaissance Renewed emphasis on mathematics Renewed emphasis on mathematics Renaissance system of patronage Renaissance system of patronage Navigational problems of long sea voyages Navigational problems of long sea voyages Better scientific instruments Better scientific instruments

Consequences of the Scientific Revolution Rise of the “Scientific Community” Rise of the “Scientific Community” --Royal Society of London (1662) --Academy of Royal Sciences (1666) The modern scientific method The modern scientific method A universe ordered according to natural laws A universe ordered according to natural laws

Consequences of the Scientific Revolution (cont) Laws discovered by human reason Laws discovered by human reason “De-Spiritualized” and de- mystified the Universe “De-Spiritualized” and de- mystified the Universe Mechanical View of the Universe Mechanical View of the Universe Deistic View of God Deistic View of God --God as the cosmic capitalist

Project Sci Rev Project Sci Rev Project Will be worked on in class today and tomorrow. We will share on Thursday.

Homework Read pages in the textbook (notes) Try to register for turnitin.com Final thesis check tomorrow (paper turned in) First draft due Friday (paper copy)

The Enlightenment “Siecle de Lumiere” “The Century of Light”

Why? Context: The Enlightenment came after a long time period of upheaval in Europe. The spread of ideas led to censorship and religious wars led to people questioning religion. Context: The Enlightenment came after a long time period of upheaval in Europe. The spread of ideas led to censorship and religious wars led to people questioning religion. Worn out by 200 years of this bickering, warfare, dissension, and fanaticism, Europe was ready for a change by the late 1600s and early 1700s. Worn out by 200 years of this bickering, warfare, dissension, and fanaticism, Europe was ready for a change by the late 1600s and early 1700s.

What was it? Progressive, Rationalistic, Humanistic worldview Progressive, Rationalistic, Humanistic worldview Emerged out of the Scientific Revolution and culminated in the French Revolution Emerged out of the Scientific Revolution and culminated in the French Revolution Spokesmen = Rising Middle Class Spokesmen = Rising Middle Class Paris = Center of Enlightenment Paris = Center of Enlightenment Optimism about mankind’s abilities Optimism about mankind’s abilities

Key Ideas Distrust of Tradition and Revealed Religion Distrust of Tradition and Revealed Religion Scientific method could be applied to society as well Scientific method could be applied to society as well Society can get better as risks are taken Society can get better as risks are taken Man is naturally good Man is naturally good Good life is on earth Good life is on earth

An Attack on the Old Regime

The World of the Old Regime Built on tradition Built on tradition World of hierarchy, privilege and inequality World of hierarchy, privilege and inequality Allied with the Church Allied with the Church Challenged by the reform impulse of supporters of the Enlightenment Challenged by the reform impulse of supporters of the Enlightenment

Conflict with the Capitalistic Middle Class Support for the Middle Class social order against the traditional social order Support for the Middle Class social order against the traditional social order Size and increasing power of the Middle Class Size and increasing power of the Middle Class New notion of wealth New notion of wealth Tension and discord created by the Middle Class Tension and discord created by the Middle Class

Popularization of Science The popularity of science in the 17 th and 18 th centuries The popularity of science in the 17 th and 18 th centuries Conversations on the Plurality of the Worlds (1686)—Bernard de Fontenelle Conversations on the Plurality of the Worlds (1686)—Bernard de Fontenelle The Scientific Revolution promised the comprehensibility of the workings of the universe The Scientific Revolution promised the comprehensibility of the workings of the universe

A New World of Uncertainties The Idea of Progress The Idea of Progress The anti-religious implications of the Enlightenment The anti-religious implications of the Enlightenment The relativity of truth and morality The relativity of truth and morality John Locke’s New Psychology John Locke’s New Psychology --Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) -- “Tabula Rasa”

The Philosophes 18 th century French intellectuals 18 th century French intellectuals Interest in addressing a broad audience Interest in addressing a broad audience Committed to reform Committed to reform Celebrated the scientific revolution Celebrated the scientific revolution The “Mystique of Newton” The “Mystique of Newton” Science applied to society Science applied to society

The Problem of Censorship The attempt of the Old Regime to control new thinking The attempt of the Old Regime to control new thinking Publishers and writers hounded by censors Publishers and writers hounded by censors Over 1000 booksellers and authors imprisoned in the Bastille in the early 1700’s Over 1000 booksellers and authors imprisoned in the Bastille in the early 1700’s Battling censorship Battling censorship

The Role of the Salon Protection and encouragement offered by French aristocratic women in their private drawing rooms Protection and encouragement offered by French aristocratic women in their private drawing rooms Feminine influence on the Enlightenment Feminine influence on the Enlightenment Madame Geoffrin Madame Geoffrin

Diderot’s Encyclopedia Ultimate strength of the philosophes lay in their numbers, dedication and organization Ultimate strength of the philosophes lay in their numbers, dedication and organization Written between Written between Attempted to illustrate all human knowledge Attempted to illustrate all human knowledge Problems with publication Problems with publication Emphasis on practical science Emphasis on practical science

Diderot’s Encyclopedia (cont) Desire to change the “general way of thinking” Desire to change the “general way of thinking” Greater knowledge leads to human progress Greater knowledge leads to human progress Emphasized moderation and tolerance Emphasized moderation and tolerance Human nature can be molded Human nature can be molded Inalienable rights and the social contract Inalienable rights and the social contract Knowledge improves goodness Knowledge improves goodness

Famous Enlightenment Thinkers

Baron de Montesquieu ( ) The Spirit of the Laws (1748) The Spirit of the Laws (1748) Despotism could be avoided if political power were divided and shared by a diversity of classes Despotism could be avoided if political power were divided and shared by a diversity of classes Power must check power Power must check power Admires British government Admires British government French parlements must be defenders of liberty French parlements must be defenders of liberty Influence in the US Influence in the US

Voltaire ( ) Enthusiasm for English institutions Enthusiasm for English institutions Reformer not a revolutionary Reformer not a revolutionary Admirer of Louis XIV Admirer of Louis XIV Relationship with Frederick the Great Relationship with Frederick the Great “Ecrasez l’infame” “Ecrasez l’infame”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( ) Rather than liberation, rationalism and civilization destroys the individual Rather than liberation, rationalism and civilization destroys the individual Man by nature was solitary, good and free Man by nature was solitary, good and free Civilization represents decay, not progress Civilization represents decay, not progress

Immanuel Kant ( ) One of few philosophes to live to see the French Revolution One of few philosophes to live to see the French Revolution Enlightenment was a personal process—release from immaturity Enlightenment was a personal process—release from immaturity More optimistic than Rousseau More optimistic than Rousseau “Dare to Know”— Enlightenment was an act of personal courage “Dare to Know”— Enlightenment was an act of personal courage