1. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

2. MAJOR FACTORS LEADING TO THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
-rise of universities in the High Middle Ages -broadening of the curriculum
-rising community of intellectuals pursuing knowledge
interest in the idea of human potential and progress
-recovery of classical texts (mathematics)
-Renaissance pattern of patronage allowed individuals to pursue scientific investigation
(Galileo was supported by the Medicis)

3. THE COPERNICAN REVOLUTION A SHIFT TO HELIOCENTRISM

4. NICOLAUS COPERNICUS (1473-1543) -Polish astronomer
-questioned Ptolemy’s complicated explanation of planetary movements
-proposed a sun centered universe (heliocentric)
-planets and stars revolved around a
fixed sun
-On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres - published in 1543

5. ON THE REVOLUTION OF THE HEAVENLY SPHERES

7. COPERNICAN SYSTEM

9. JOHANNAS KEPLER (1571-1630) -German astronomer
-formulated the three laws of planetary motion
-orbits of the planets are elliptical
-velocity of a planet’s orbit is not
uniform
-time it takes a planet to orbit the sun is
related to its distance from the sun
-Kepler provided sound mathematical proofs
for Copernicus’ heliocentric theory

10. JOHANNAS KEPLER THE THREE LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION

11. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) -Italian philosopher and astronomer
-viewed the physical universe as a “Book of Nature…written in mathematical characters.”
Improved on the telescope
allowed him to observe the motion of the planets and the surface of the sun and moon
-came to accept Copernicus’ idea of a heliocentric universe (based on observations)
The Dialogue- Galileo’s discussion of his ideas regarding heliocentrism

12. -Galileo’s views were challenged by the Church
Church feared that helio-centrism would undermine its authority and theology
Based on the geo-centrism of Aristotle
-Galileo was brought before the Inquisition
works were banned and teachings were condemned
placed on the Index of Prohibited Books
-he was threatened with torture and excommunication and was placed under house arrest
-Galileo recanted his views shortly before his death

13. GALILEO PROVIDED EVIDENCE FOR HELIOCENTRICISM (OBSERVATIONS OF THE MOONS OF JUPITER)

14. GALILEO OBSERVED JUPITER AND THE ROTATION OF ITS MOONS

15. THE DIALOGUE

16. SIR ISAAC NEWTON

17. Isaac Newton (1642-1723) -English mathematician – Cambridge University
-built on the work of Copernicus, Kepler, and
Galileo (Newtonian synthesis)
-1686 formulated the mathematics for the universal law of gravitation
(every physical body in the universe exerts a force on every other body)
-proved that the universe was governed by precise mathematical relationships

18. -Newton was deeply Christian (theistic) in his thinking
the physical order “can be the effect of nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever-living agent.”
-the science of Newton would lay the foundation for the science of the western world

19. UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITATION NEWTONIAN SYNTHESIS-RATIONAL PROOF FOR THE HELIOCENTRIC MODEL

20. NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITY

22. SIR FRANCIS BACON EMPIRICISM (SCIENTIFIC METHOD) INDUCTIVE –TRUTH CLAIMS HAD TO BE EMPIRICIALLY VERIFIED

23. Francis Bacon ( )
-English politician and writer (not a scientist)
-knowledge comes through observation and experimentation (SCIENTIFIC METHOD)
-allow the “facts” to speak for themselves and draw conclusions based on those facts
(inductive reasoning-EMPIRICISM)
-increase in knowledge would lead to powerful nations and an increase in personal wealth

24. EMPIRICAL MODEL
ALL KNOWLEDGE HAD TO BE EMPIRICALLY (SCIENTIFICALLY) VERIFIED TO BE VALID

25. INDUCTIVE MODEL

26. RENE’ DESCARTES “I think, therefore, I am.”

27. Rene’ Descartes 1596-1650 French mathematician
Invented analytical geometry
Developed a scientific method based on rational deduction rather than empirical induction
Stressed rational speculation and reflection
Descartes believed that he could rationally prove the existence of God

28. DEDUCTIVE MODEL

29. DESCARTES’ IDEAS IMPACTED THE WAY THE MODERN WORLD WOULD COME TO LOOK AT KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH DUALISM
SUBJECTIVE
MIND
SPIRITUAL
INTUITIVE
NOT OPEN TO EMPIRICAL OR MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION
OBJECTIVE
PHYSICAL (MATTER)
SCIENTIFIC
MATHEMATICAL
RATIONAL

30. BLAISE PASCAL 1623-1662 FRENCH MATHEMATICIAN AND PHILOSOPHER
FIRST TO USE PROBABILITY THEORY
DEVELOPED THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CALCULUS
CHALLENGED WHETHER HUMAN REASON COULD REALLY ADDRESS LIFE’S GREATEST QUESTIONS.
DEEPLY CHRISTIAN THINKER
STRESSED THE “REASON OF THE HEART” OVER PURE REASON AND LOGIC

31. PENSEES COMPILATION OF PASCAL’S REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN TRUTH
COMPILED AFTER HIS DEATH
MOST WELL KNOW LITERARY WORK

32. PASCAL’S WAGER
PASCAL USED A MATHEMATICAL ANALOGY TO EXPLAIN HIS FAITH IN GOD
BELIEVED THAT ONE HAD TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TOWARD GOD
“WAGER” THAT GOD’S REVELATION WAS TRUE AND REAL
IF ONE WINS THE WAGER – GAIN EVERYTHING
LOSE THE WAGER- LOSE NOTHING
LOGIC AND REASON COULD NOT BRING ONE TO ULTIMATE CERTAINTY
CHALLENGED DESCARTES CONFIDENCE IN REASON AS THE PATH TO TRUTH (GOD)

33. PASCAL’S CALCULATING MACHINE

34. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION WOULD IMPACT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO 18TH CENTURY MOVEMENTS THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE INDUSTIRAL REVOLUTION