1. Age of Reason

2. Europe Before the Scientific Revolution
Renaissance
A rebirth of learning and the arts
Inspired curiosity in many fields
Scholars began to question ideas that had been “accepted” for hundreds of yrs
Reformation: prompted the challenging of accepted ways of thinking about God and salvation
Truth of ideas revolved around Bible or ancient Greek or Roman scholars

3. Causes of the Scientific Revolution
Renaissance inspired new curiosities
Exploration (broaden European horizons)
Science challenges old ways of thought
Printing press
Work of Scientists (i.e., astronomers, Newton, advancements in medicine)

4. And a revolution begins
The Scientific Revolution was a new way of thinking about the natural world.
That way was based upon careful observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs
Traveling the world opened up Europeans to this idea that there was a whole world of new truths to be found.

5. Geocentric theory – Middle Ages view
Most scholars believed that the earth was an immovable object located at the center of the universe-Geocentric theory
Common sense seemed to support this view
Geocentric theory
came from Aristotle
Religion also supported this theory

6. Heliocentric Theory New way of thinking Sun-centered view of universe
Developed by Nicolaus Copernicus
Rejected by clergy because it contradicted with religious views
Result: Copernicus did NOT publish findings until the last year of his life

7. EFFECTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
1. Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about power of reason
2. Scientific method and reason led to discoveries about physical world
3. Wondered if reason could be used to study human nature, society
New generation of philosophers, 1600s
Viewed reason as best way to understand truth
Concluded reason could be used to solve all human problems
The relationship between government and its people is challenged.
This time of optimism now called the Enlightenment

8. What is the Enlightenment?
THE ENLIGHTENMENT OCCURRED B/W
Thinkers believed reason could be used to uncover the laws that govern human life
Once the laws were known people could make society better
Believed that reason was a much better guide than faith or tradition
Reason is the “light” that reveals human error and showed the way to truth

9. Defining The Age of Enlightenment
A period of intellectual exchange in Europe during the 18th century
Belief in the idea of “progress”
A desire for political and social change

10. Beliefs Belief in Progress Secular Outlook
Through reason a better society was possible
through progress we would continue to expand our knowledge in the sciences
Secular Outlook
More worldly view of life
church is continuing to lose power
questioning of all church beliefs
Importance Of the Individual
own ability to reason
importance of the individual in society
Individual achievement