1. The Scientific Revolution

2. The Scientific Revolution
These changes also affected what Europeans held as “real” and how they measured knowledge
These new approaches would also affect religion, society, and politics
The changes began in astronomy, then math, physics, and medicine

3. Medieval Scientific Theory
Believed in an universe governed by God’s will, not fundamental laws.
Man and his planet are at the center of everything.

4. The New Scientific Method
Experiments to test theories.
Observation, recording results, proving results through research.

5. Nicholaus Copernicus, 1473-1543
Devoted thirty years to astronomical observation
Theorized a heliocentric universe (sun-centered)
Copernicus was a physician, economist, lay minister, and an amateur astronomer
from Germany
Feared condemnation so held off publishing until he was on his deathbed

6. Copernicus is proven right
Tycho Brahe (Danish astronomer) accumulated huge amounts of data from many years of observations.
His assistant, Johannes Kepler (German), used his data to support Copernicus’s theory.
Brahe
Kepler

7. Brahe actually wanted to prove Copernicus wrong, but Kepler used Brahe’s research to prove him right!

8. Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642) First to really use a telescope
like Kepler, he helped prove Copernicus’s theory
Condemned to house arrest by papacy for heresy
It does
move!!
Galileo studied medicine, natural philosophy & mathematics
From Italy

9. Newton spent his later years studying theology
Isaac Newton ( )
His “discoveries” spanned
Physics (laws of motion and gravity)
Math (invented calculus)
Astronomy
Philosophy
Newton spent his later years studying theology

10. Newton was a member of Parliament and knighted by the queen
Sir. Isaac Newton ( )
“If I have been able to see farther than others, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants.”
Nature followed laws!….. laws of gravity, laws of motion….in he published - Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
Newton was a member of Parliament and knighted by the queen
from England

12. The Three Laws of Motion, 1666
An object in motion tends to stay in motion, while an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless acted upon by an outside force
When a force is applied to an object, it accelerates according to the equation a = F/m
(a=acceleration,F=force,m=mass)
to every action there exists an equal and opposite reaction

13. Truth is not known at the beginning of inquiry
but at the end, after a long process of investigation.

14. Rene Descartes ( )
French natural philosopher “I think, therefore I am”
Discourse on Method (1637): argued that only logic and mathematics are certain
Deductive Method: Science begins in the mind with the hypothesis

15. Scientific Revolution Summary
Medieval & early Renaissance Europe believed in a geocentric universe
Copernicus and Galileo’s early challenges met with religious disapproval
Descartes helps establish keys to the scientific methods
By 1700, Newton and his peers began to enjoy a fully scientific culture