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Scientific Revolution: Context (Prior to 1550)

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Scientific Revolution: Context (Prior to 1550) Scientific Revolution: Context (Prior to 1550) ● Which civilizations have we already studied that were involved in science, mathematics, astronomy, and technological innovation? ● Was Western Europe seen as being at the forefront of science, math, and technological innovation prior to 1550? ● Before 1550, what was scientific thought like in Europe? Who were considered authorities on physical/natural matters? Scientific Revolution: Context (Prior to 1550) ● Before 1550, educated Europeans largely looked to the ancient Greeks (especially Aristotle) as the gold standard on natural matters ● The Bible, The Church, superstition and tradition also dominated thinking about the world in Europe before 1550 Why did the Scientific Revolution begin in Europe instead of the Islamic World or China? Causes of the Scientific Revolution- What made it possible? Why Europe? ● European universities were “neutral zones of intellectual autonomy”- separate from the control of the state and church ● European exploration gave them a lot more information about the larger world ● The Renaissance was a rebirth in learning; it encouraged secular study and made people become more curious about their world ● The Reformation challenged established authority= no longer constrained by tradition ● Printing press + Luther’s emphasis on education= more literate population THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (1550-1750): KEY CONTRIBUTORS ● Nicolaus Copernicus (Poland)- promoted the heliocentric theory- the sun is at the center of the universe, and everything revolves around it ○ Refuted the previous geocentric theory promoted by Ptolemy (Greek)- Earth is at the center of the universe) THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (1550-1750): KEY CONTRIBUTORS ● Johannes Kepler (Germany)- supported Copernicus’s ideas with mathematical proofs (mathematical laws govern planetary motion) ● Galileo Galilei (Italy)- Built his own advanced telescope to study the cosmos; revealed new insight on stars and planets ● Francis Bacon (England)- Supported empiricism- urged scientists to experiment and then draw conclusions ● Rene Descartes (France)- Believed things should be doubted until proven by reason; encouraged use of mathematics to prove ideas ● Isaac Newton (England)- Developed laws of physics, including the law of universal gravitation; developed calculus to explain complex scientific ideas ● Andreas Vesalius (Belgium)- Dissections led to new insights on human anatomy ● Robert Boyle (Ireland)- “The father of modern chemistry”- proposed matter was made of small particles; helped explain how volume, temperature, and pressure of gas affect each other THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (1550-1750): MAJOR IDEAS ● The natural world and larger universe operate according to fixed scientific laws ● Advanced mathematics can and should be used to explain the natural world ● People can understand the natural world through observation (empiricism) ● Ideas should be tested using experimentation- led to the scientific method ● Ideas should be doubted until proven by math and science ● Humans should use reason and logic to examine the world around them ● Inductive reasoning- using evidence to form conclusions THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (1550-1750): MAJOR EFFECTS ● Radical departure- no longer rely on the works of ancient philosophers, the Church, or tradition to explain the natural world- now, science, observation, experimentation, and reason can give new insight ● The field of science grew tremendously- inspired new research, education expanded ● Permanently changed humans’ view of their position in the cosmos ● While not anti-religion, it challenged the teachings and authority of the Church- prompted a response from the Church ● Resulted in some loss of religious faith in Europe ● Set the stage for the Industrial Revolution later on ● Focus on reason and logic led to the Enlightenment- applied principles of the Scientific Revolution to society and politics Galileo standing trial in 1633 before the Inquisition.
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