Chapter One: Revolutionizing the Sciences

Revolutionizing the Sciences (2001) Chapter Three: The Scholar & The Craftsman

The following questions/outline should guide your reading, note taking, & studying. Students who can answer these questions in their own words without simply copying information from notes will show their understanding of the chapter.

Big Picture Questions, Terms, & Individuals [49-59, 47-59 (2nd ed)]: I. Mastering the occult Knowledge of nature discussed OUTSIDE the universities?  contemplative knowledge versus practical knowledge  scholasticism (scientia) versus craftsmen/artisans How did Paracelsus’ theories & practice DIFFER from Galenic medicine?  health & illness? (4 “humours” of Galen)  occult sympathies, microcosm-macrocosm, astra, tria prima? (Paracelsianism)

II. Craft knowledge & its spokesmen How did the status of practical know-how change in the 16th century?  mining & metallurgy? (Pirotechnia & De re metallica)  vita contemplativa versus vita activa?  alchemy & chemistry? (Alchemia)

In what ways was mathematical practice mixed with natural philosophy?  navigational sciences? (Gresham College)  astronomy & Digges? (A Perfit Description of the Caelestiall Orbes)  magnetism & Gilbert? (De magnete)  practical know-how & experimental knowledge

III. Francis Bacon: philosophy, practical knowledge, & the place of antiquity  what were his views on practical knowledge? (The Advancement of Learning, Novum Organum)  did he completely reject ancient knowledge?

IV. Knowledge & statecraft [61-64, 60-63 [2nd ed)]  what was Bacon’s method for making knowledge? (via et ratio)  how did it differ from Aristotelian method? (syllogism)  what is induction according to Bacon?  purpose of knowledge? (New Atlantis, “Salomon’s House”)  role of mathematics? Overall significance of Bacon’s writings? Scientific Revolution (ca. 1500-1700)

What were some of the major changes? Why did they take place? Who were the main characters involved? Were they thinking & behaving like modern "scientists"? [Hint: NO]

Six Major Changes

1) Abandonment of ancient Greek picture of the universe

2) Gradual rejection of Aristotelian binary physics

3) Undermining of ancient Greek anatomical & physiological knowledge

4) Shift from Aristotelian theory of knowledge to modern skepticism

5) Development of new methods for establishing certainty by mathematics, instrumentation, and experimental techniques.

6) Founding of the first national, government-sponsored scientific societies