I. the Scientific Revolution of the Seventeenth Century

CHAPTER 29

THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION AND ITS ENLIGHTENED AFTERMATH

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Challenges to the medieval way of life were initially tentative and cautious. Ultimately, however, they led to breakthroughs in scientific thinking. In turn, Enlightenment ideals, which placed increasing emphasis on rationality and human freedom, confronted all aspects of the privileged establishment and contested its core values. The phenomenon of the Enlightenment followed close on the heels of the Scientific Revolution, and its major philosophers took “reason” as their greatest took for analysis.

I. The Scientific Revolution of the Seventeenth Century A. Background of the Scientific Revolution II. The Progress of Scientific Knowledge: Copernicus to Newton III. Religion and Science in the Seventeenth Century IV. The Science of Man A. Formative Figures and Basic Ideas B. The Philosophes and Their Ideals C. Economic Thought: Adam Smith D. Educational Theory and the Popularization of Knowledge E. Ideals of the Enlightenment: Reason, Liberty, and Happiness F. The Audience of the Philosophes V. Summary