1. The Scientific Revolution

2. The Scientific Revolution
And new philosophy calls all in doubt,
The element of fire is quite put out,
The sun is lost, and th’ earth, and no man’s wit,
Can well direct him where to look for it,
’Tis all in pieces, all coherence gone.
-John Donne, (1612)
“Anatomy of the World”

3. The Philosophical Medieval View
Greco-Roman natural philosophy (Aristotle & Ptolemy) supported the
Geocentric theory:
Earth was an unmoving object located at the center of the universe- the sun and planets moved around the Earth
Christianity taught that God had placed Earth and man at the center of the universe. The geocentric theory supports this viewpoint.

4. Geocentric Theory

5. Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) Greek philosopher
Theorized on the elements
Philosophies had long-lasting effects on philosophical theories.

6. Ptolemy (85 AD – 165 AD) Greek astronomer, mathematician & geographer
Expanded Aristotle’s geocentric theory.
Introduced trigonometry methods.
Geocentric system = Ptolemaic system
Ptolemy (85 AD – 165 AD)

7. Before the Scientific Revolution
Science was called “natural philosophy”
Science mixed with moral philosophy, theology, astrology, & alchemy
Based on “received’ knowledge
Ancient “classical” authorities
The Bible
New knowledge not sought
Few experiments were performed
Focus was to interpret and reconcile, not discover
prove God exists
Scholasticism

8. Causes of the Scientific Revolution
The voyages of discovery and colonization
Renaissance
Ancient & Medieval works translated into Latin, then vernacular languages
old ways of thinking are questioned
Institutions of sharing
Royal Society of London
New inventions

9. What was the Scientific Revolution?
From mid-1500s to 1700
Development of new ways to study universe
Old authorities no longer blindly accepted
Application of mathematics to natural world
Creation and spread of NEW ideas and discoveries

10. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Polish astronomer
heliocentric theory
Sun at center of universe
Earth is no different than any other planet
Rotates around the Sun
Night and day caused by Earth’s rotation
On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)
Nicolaus Copernicus ( )

11. Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models

12. Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models
Heliocentric Theory
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models

13. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) uses experiments & observations
planetary movement is a mathematical formula
Laws of Planetary Motion
planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits NOT circles
confirms Copernicus ideas

14. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) designs 1st telescope w/lens
sees movement of stars & moons (similar to the movement of the planets)
Church believes heavens are fixed, unmoving & earth is central

15. Gathered observations that support the Heliocentric Model
Observed moons orbiting Jupiter…
So all things don’t orbit the Earth!
warned not to support heliocentrism
Wrote Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632)
accused of heresy (crimes against Church)
1633 brought to trial before Catholic Inquisition
recants his statements
house arrest for rest of life
The Trial of Galileo (1633)

16. Why did the Catholic Church care?
Galileo was CATHOLIC!
mocked church as “Simplicio”
The Protestant Reformation
Events had disturbed the faith of many Christians
Movements in the heavens which contradicted Church doctrine

17. Isaac Newton (1642-1727) Gravity
every object in universe attracts every other object based on size and distance
Law of inertia
Universal laws of motion are the same everywhere
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687)
Universe is a giant clock- all parts work together but God set clock in motion.
Deeply religious
God is the masterful creator
Isaac Newton ( )

18. Alchemy and astrology Alchemy Astrology Changing base metals into gold
Forerunner to modern chemistry
continued to appeal to elites and some natural philosophers, in part because they shared with the new science the notion of a predictable and knowable universe.
Sir Isaac Newton
Wrote more on alchemy than physics
Goal was to find the philosopher’s stone
Astrology
At the same time, many people continued to believe that the cosmos was governed by spiritual forces.

19. Alchemy and astrology
Alchemy
Astrology

20. Andreas Vesalius ( )
First to dissect human bodies (even though a disapproved practice)
Wrote On the Fabric of the Human Body (1543)
His published observations included detailed drawings of human organs, bones & muscle.
Disproves Galen’s ideas on anatomy and bodily humors (fluids)

21. William Harvey ( )
Published On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals (1628)
Showed heart acted as a pump to circulate blood throughout body

22. Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632 – 1723)
Dutch
Father of microbiology
Studied microorganisms under a microscope

23. English politician & writer with an interest in science.
Criticized ancient philosophers on how they arrived at conclusions.
Urged scientists to experiment in order to arrive at conclusions
Inductive reasoning
Make genral staments from specific observations
Developed Scientific Method
Francis Bacon ( )

24. The Scientific Method Observation Research Hypothesis Experiment
Analysis
Conclusion

25. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French scientist & mathematician.
Developed analytical geometry (links both algebra & geometry)
Developments provided new tools for scientific research.
Discourse on Method
Reasoning should go from general principles to specific
deductive
“Cogito, ergo sum”
“I think therefore I am”

26. Convinced that all humans are wicked and evil
Humans exist in a primitive state and give consent to the government for self-protection
Governments with absolute power are needed to control human greed and impulses
Wrote Leviathan (1651)
Leviathan is an all-powerful biblical sea monster used as a metaphor of the government for which he advocated
Influenced by events of the English Civil War
Thomas Hobbes (1588 –1679)

27. John Locke (1632-1704) People learn from experience
At birth = tabula rasa or “blank slate”
Favored self-gov’t, people rule
Natural rights: life, liberty, property
gov’t protects these rights and if not, people overthrow gov’t
Infl. by Restoration and Glorious Rev.
Two Treaties on Government (1690)
“Father of Liberalism”
Inspired
Enlightenment thinkers (Voltaire, Rousseau)
American Revolution
Jefferson “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
John Locke ( )