PEOPLE OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Copernicus  Came up with the heliocentric theory = sun-centered conception of the universe  The planets revolve around the sun and the moon revolves around Earth  Daily rotation of Earth on its axis  First to create a complete model of the solar system using physics, astronomy, and mathematics  Previous belief: Aristotle and Ptolemy – geocentric (Earth-centered) conception of the universe, Earth is fixed, as is Heaven – belief since 150 AD

Kepler  Came up with a mathematical formula that supported/proved the Copernican theory  Stated that the orbits of planets are elliptical, with the sun at the end, not the center = Kepler’s Law  Planets orbit the sun in an oval pattern or ellipse

Galileo  Built the first telescope and made regular observations  First to observe Saturn, the craters on the moon, sunspots, and the moons of Jupiter  Stated that the heavenly bodies were made of material substance – goes against the beliefs of the Church  Previous belief = Ptolemy – heavenly bodies were orbs of light

Sir Isaac Newton  Three laws of motion that govern the heavenly bodies and objects on Earth  Universal law of gravitation  Gravity affects objects in the universe as well as on Earth  Keeps the planets in their orbits  Universe seen as a regulated machine that worked according to natural laws  Developed calculus to predict the effects of gravity

Vesalius  Dissected human bodies and presented an accurate examination of individual organs and general structure of the human body  Hired artists to produce accurate drawings  Previous belief: Galen, a Greek physician from ancient times, used animals for dissection

Boyle  Called the father of modern chemistry  First chemist to define an element  Described matter as a cluster of tiny particles  Boyle’s Law = volume of gas varies with the amount of pressure exerted on it

Francis Bacon  Invented the scientific method  Identify a problem and form a hypothesis to be tested  Perform experiments and record the results  Analyze the results to form a conclusion that either proves or disproves the hypothesis  Believed the only true way to gain scientific knowledge was through experimentation = observing, measuring, explaining, and verifying

Descartes  Wrote about doubt and uncertainty of the 17 th century  Father of modern rationalism = reason is the chief source of knowledge  Emphasis on reason  Believed everything should be doubted until it could be proven by reason  Doubt about existence – “I think, therefore I am”  Principle of the separation of mind and matter