The Scientific Revolution Key Concepts

I. The Aristotelian Universe Derived from Ptolemy, Aristotle, and Plato Derived from Ptolemy, Aristotle, and Plato Church is decider of science Church is decider of science Components of Medieval Cosmology/Alchemy Components of Medieval Cosmology/Alchemy Earth = Living, Protected Sphere Earth = Living, Protected Sphere Geocentric View of Universe Geocentric View of Universe

III. 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 Contact with non-Europeans- especially Islamic World Contact with non-Europeans- especially Islamic World

A. Copernicus ( ) Aim to glorify God Aim to glorify God Heliocentric Model Heliocentric Model 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

D. Galileo Galilei ( ) Early practitioner of the experimental method Early practitioner of the experimental method Mathematical formula for acceleration of falling objects Mathematical formula for acceleration of falling objects Law of inertia Law of inertia His discoveries using the telescope His discoveries using the telescope End of his life End of his life

C. Johannes Kepler ( ) Planetary motion conforms to mathematical formula Planetary motion conforms to mathematical formula Elliptical orbits Elliptical orbits Planets do not move at uniform speeds in their orbits Planets do not move at uniform speeds in their orbits

F. Francis Bacon ( ) Father of the Scientific Revolution Father of the Scientific Revolution The Inductive Method The Inductive Method Emphasis on practical, useful knowledge Emphasis on practical, useful knowledge New attitude toward nature New attitude toward nature

G. Rene Descartes ( ) Significance of Doubt Significance of Doubt Reason, not tradition, is the source of all knowledge Reason, not tradition, is the source of all knowledge The Deductive Method The Deductive Method Spatial relationships can be expressed in mathematical formulas Spatial relationships can be expressed in mathematical formulas “I think, therefore I am” “I think, therefore I am”

E. Isaac Newton ( ) Newton far from the perfect rationalist Newton far from the perfect rationalist A great synthesizer A great synthesizer Blends inductive and deductive methods Blends inductive and deductive methods Law of Gravity Law of Gravity Newton’s Laws Newton’s Laws Argues for a universe governed by natural laws Argues for a universe governed by natural laws Co-developer of Calculus Co-developer of Calculus

IV. Consequences of the Scientific Revolution The Questioning of Everything The Questioning of Everything The Growth of Reason & Logic The Growth of Reason & Logic The modern scientific method The modern scientific method A universe ordered according to natural laws A universe ordered according to natural laws

IV. 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 or watchmaker