The Scientific Revolution

What is the Scientific Revolution? What: A new way of thinking about the natural world Based on observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs When: Began in Mid 1500’s through 1700’s (16th - 18th centuries) Where: Throughout Europe

Before the Scientific revolution... Medieval Thought Geocentrism Earth = center of universe Sun moves around earth Why this view? Observations Christianity taught that God created earth at center of universe

Why change Now? Renaissance -> Greek writings Translation of Muslim works -> new sciences Exploration -> discoveries Printing Press -> transmission of ideas Reformation -> challenging of the church

The Scientists Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543); Polish Heliocentric Theory : planets revolve around the sun Johannes Kepler ( 1571- 1630); German Planets moved around sun in ellipses not circles. Mathematically demonstrated Copernicus premise was true

The Scientists Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642); Italian Improved the telescope and used it to prove Copernican theory (heliocentric) Laws of motion Father of observational astronomy Tried before the Inquisition in 1633 on accounts of heresy for supporting Copernican theory. He relinquished his beliefs under threat of torture. Died under house arrest.

<-- Francis Bacon Rene Descartes -->

The Scientists Francis Bacon (1561-1626); English Developed the experimental method/scientific method ( also called empiricism) Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650); French Mathematician - Cartesian geometry Believed in the importance of logic and reason Doubt everything! “ I think, therefore I am”

The Scientists Francis Bacon (1561-1626); English Developed the experimental method/scientific method ( also called empiricism) Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650); French Mathematician - Cartesian geometry Believed in the importance of logic and reason Doubt everything! “ I think, therefore I am”

The Scientists Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727); English Newtonian Physics - same rule that applies to motion of planets applies on earth Laws of motion and universal gravity Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

The Technology Scientific Instruments 1590 - Microscope invented by Zacharias Janssen 1670 - Anton van Leeuwenhoek used microscope to observe bacteria, red blood cells, maggots 1724 - Thermometer - Gabriel Fahrenheit 1742 - Celsius Thermometer - Anders Celsius

Medicine and the Human body 1543 - Andre Vesalius published first book on observations while dissecting human corpse 1623 - William Harvey showed the heart pumps blood through the body 1796- Edward Jenner - vaccine for smallpox

Welcome to the Age of Reason The Enlightenment Welcome to the Age of Reason

Thomas Hobbes (1558 - 1679) English Leviathan (1651) To escape a bleak life, people gave up their rights to a strong ruler Saw destruction from English Civil War and believed a strong monarch was needed

John Locke (1632-1704) English Two Treatise on Government (1690) Natural Rights - Life, Liberty, Property Favored self government - If government does not suit the people, it should be overthrown Lived during Glorious Revolution and English Bill of Rights

The Philosophes French Philosophers Five core concepts 1. Reason 2. Nature 3. Happiness 4. Progress 5. Liberty Reason -Reason is the absence of intolerance, bigotry, or prejudice Nature - natural was good and reasonable - natural laws of economics like there were laws of motion Happiness - person lived by natural laws would find happiness Progress - progress of society- used scientific approach in society Liberty - French envied the rights the english had- believe through reason, society could be set free.

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) Swiss / French The Social Contract (1762) Believed civilization corrupted people Only good government is one created by free individuals who consent -> this is his social contract All people are equal Grew up in a lower class family and disliked decadent French society, the nobility, and saw the negatives of absolute rule

Baron de Montesquieu (1689 - 1775) French On the Spirit of Laws (1748) Separation of powers - division between law makers, judges, and executive power Checks and Balances Looked to British Constitutional Monarchy

Voltaire (1694 - 1778) French Various writings in history, poetry, and prose - Ex. Candide (1759) Used satire to criticize clergy, nobles, french court Believed in tolerance, religious freedom, freedom of speech Sent to prison by French court, persecuted by French king and bishops

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759- 1797) English A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) Women’s rights Women should be educated, not just pretty objects Influenced by English Bill of Rights and expansion of rights for men in England

Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) Italian Crimes and Punishment (1764) Laws existed to preserve social order not to punish crimes Punishment should fit the crime Influenced by poor criminal justice system in Italy up to this point as well as by other Enlightenment thinkers.