CHAPTER 21.1 THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
VOCABULARY
• Geocentric: Earth-centered view of the universe • Heliocentric: Sun-centered view of the universe • Philosopher: A person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment; a scholar or a thinker CAUSES OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
• Increased need for careful observation and accurate measurements • Invention of new instruments like the telescope and microscope • Printing press allowed new ideas to spread quickly and easily • Mathematics was seen as key to every scientific achievement
• A new way of thinking about the natural world becomes known as the Scientific Revolution • Willingness to question beliefs SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS
The Ptolemaic System • A model of the universe that combined ideas of Aristotle, Christianity, and Ptolemy • Geocentric Copernicus and Kepler • Copernicus published On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies • Determined that the universe is heliocentric • Kepler builds on ideas of Copernicus • Elliptical orbits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpSy0Lkm3zM
“ Ptolemy is compared to a whimsical cook who, instead of turning his meat in roasting, should…contrive to have his whole fire, kitchen and all, whirling continually ‘round it. ” Benjamin Franklin SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS
Galileo’s Discoveries • Builds own telescope in 1609 CE • Observations and discoveries challenge those of old Greek philosophers • Heavenly bodies (planets) made up of material substance, not pure light • Published The Starry Messenger; many Europeans made aware of the universe • Threatened by the Catholic Church to recant theories
NEWTON’S VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE
• Isaac Newton is often called the greatest genius of the Scientific Revolution • Published Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy or Principia • In Principia, Newton defined three laws of motion • Main idea is the universal law of gravitation: Explains that planetary bodies continue their elliptical orbits around the sun because every object in the universe is attracted to every other object by a force called gravity BREAKTHROUGHS IN MEDICINE AND CHEMISTRY
Robert Boyle • Proposed that matter was made up of smaller particles that joined together in different ways Antoine Lavoisier • Conservation of matter; “father of modern chemistry” • First list of elements • Devised the metric system William Harvey • Heart is the beginning point for blood circulation
PHILOSOPHY AND REASON Descartes • Rene Descartes brought philosophical perspective to the natural sciences; separation of mind and matter • Father of modern rationalism: system of thought based on the belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method • Francis Bacon devised the Scientific Method: A systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence • Scientists should proceed from the particular to the general—inductive reasoning • “I think, therefore I am.” • “We cannot doubt of our existence while we doubt.”
With your table partner, discuss what these quotations from Descartes mean
EXAMPLES OF INDUCTIVE REASONING Example 1: • Mr. Shipp used PowerPoint to teach on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Therefore, Mr. Shipp will use PowerPoint to teach on Thursday as well. Example 2: • Every fall there are hurricanes in the tropics. Therefore, there will be hurricanes in the tropics this coming fall. Example 3: • Eight months ago I met a doctor from Prescott and he was friendly. • Five months ago I met a car mechanic from Prescott and he was friendly. • Last week I met a waitress from Prescott and she was friendly. Therefore, people from Prescott must be friendly.