A Scientific & Intellectual A Scientific & Intellectual RevolutionRevolution

Foundation in the RenaissanceFoundation in the Renaissance

Renaissance spiritRenaissance spirit Questioning leads to scientific achievementsQuestioning leads to scientific achievements Use of reason and logic (not medieval superstition)Use of reason and logic (not medieval superstition) Scientific method and experimentationScientific method and experimentation

Search for truth in science; scientific Search for truth in science; scientific progressprogress

Renaissance artists contributed by Renaissance artists contributed by close attention to detail; focus on close attention to detail; focus on perspective and proportionsperspective and proportions

Printing press helped spread ideasPrinting press helped spread ideas

Foundation cont.Foundation cont.

Built upon writings of Greeks & Built upon writings of Greeks & Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Ptolemy)Ptolemy)

Developed the scientific method of Developed the scientific method of observation and experimentationobservation and experimentation

Challenged medieval superstitionChallenged medieval superstition Uncovered much knowledge of the Uncovered much knowledge of the

physical world (new technology – physical world (new technology – telescope, microscope)telescope, microscope)

AchievementsAchievements

PtolemyPtolemy – – Geocentric TheoryGeocentric Theory Earth is center of universe, planets Earth is center of universe, planets

revolve around itrevolve around it CopernicusCopernicus – – Heliocentric TheoryHeliocentric Theory

The sun is the center of the solar system The sun is the center of the solar system The earth revolves around the sun (The earth revolves around the sun (axis)axis) Disproved Ptolemy’s theoryDisproved Ptolemy’s theory

Achievements cont.Achievements cont.

KeplerKepler – German astronomer & – German astronomer & mathematicianmathematician Laws of Laws of planetary motionplanetary motion However, planets follow an However, planets follow an ellipticalelliptical, not , not

circular orbit in revolving around the suncircular orbit in revolving around the sun

Achievements cont.Achievements cont.

GalileoGalileo – Italian astronomer and – Italian astronomer and physicistphysicist Greatly improved the Greatly improved the telescopetelescope Further Further confirmed Copernican confirmed Copernican theorytheory Also found mountains, several moons Also found mountains, several moons

around Jupiter, sunspots, etc.around Jupiter, sunspots, etc. Found himself increasingly under Found himself increasingly under

suspicion by the Catholic Churchsuspicion by the Catholic Church First First thermometerthermometer

AchievementsAchievements

NewtonNewton – English mathematician, – English mathematician, astronomer, physicistastronomer, physicist Calculated the Calculated the law of motion and gravitylaw of motion and gravity Invented mathematical analysis called Invented mathematical analysis called

calculuscalculus Discovered laws of Discovered laws of light and colorlight and color

Achievements contAchievements cont

Boyle Boyle – English chemist– English chemist Discovered the law of Discovered the law of gases gases that is that is

fundamental to fundamental to modern chemistrymodern chemistry LeeuwenhoekLeeuwenhoek – Dutch naturalist – Dutch naturalist

Perfected the Perfected the microscopemicroscope MicroorganismsMicroorganisms Studied the previously invisible world of Studied the previously invisible world of

bacteriabacteria, protozoa, animal and plant , protozoa, animal and plant cellscells

Achievements cont.Achievements cont.

VesaliusVesalius – Flemish physician – Flemish physician DissectionsDissections of the human body of the human body Founded the science of Founded the science of anatomyanatomy

Harvey Harvey – English physician– English physician Demonstrated that Demonstrated that blood circulates blood circulates

through the bodythrough the body HeartHeart pumps blood pumps blood Furthered the Furthered the study of medicinestudy of medicine

Achievements, cont.Achievements, cont.

Sir Francis Sir Francis BaconBacon Developed Developed scientific methodscientific method Use of Use of reasonreason in research in research Inductive principles – from specifics to Inductive principles – from specifics to

general general conclusionsconclusions Louis Louis PasteurPasteur

Use of Use of heatheat to kill organisms to kill organisms Pasteurization of milkPasteurization of milk

Edward JennerEdward Jenner Smallpox vaccineSmallpox vaccine

AchievementsAchievements

Gregor Gregor MendelMendel Founder of science of Founder of science of geneticsgenetics Recognized inheritance of certain Recognized inheritance of certain traitstraits

Carl Carl LinnaeusLinnaeus System of System of classifying living things classifying living things into into

groupsgroups Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Species, Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Species,

etc.etc.

Achievements (women) cont.Achievements (women) cont.

Margaret Cavendish Margaret Cavendish – scientist; – scientist; humans have no power over naturehumans have no power over nature

Maria Winkelmann Maria Winkelmann – discovered a – discovered a cometcomet

No women invited to the academies No women invited to the academies (Royal Society of England, French (Royal Society of England, French Academy of Science)Academy of Science)

Little changed Little changed about roles of womenabout roles of women

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

Intellectual movement based in the Intellectual movement based in the scientific revolutionscientific revolution

Focus on Focus on reason reason Could apply the scientific method to Could apply the scientific method to

understanding of all lifeunderstanding of all life Began to apply reason to governmentsBegan to apply reason to governments Following natural law would lead to Following natural law would lead to

progressprogress

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes

IntellectualsIntellectuals known by this name but known by this name but not all were Frenchnot all were French

Literary people, professors, Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political journalists, economists, political scientists, social reformersscientists, social reformers

Came from all classesCame from all classes An international movementAn international movement Rational criticism could be applied to Rational criticism could be applied to

everythingeverything

Five BeliefsFive Beliefs

ReasonReason – truth discovered by logic – truth discovered by logic NatureNature – what is natural is good – what is natural is good HappinessHappiness – secularism – secularism ProgressProgress – society can improve – society can improve LibertyLiberty – political freedoms (rights) – political freedoms (rights)

Contributions cont.Contributions cont.

Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal – sought to keep science – sought to keep science and religion together; not mutually and religion together; not mutually exclusiveexclusive

But trend to But trend to secularizationsecularization (seeing the (seeing the world as material not spiritual)world as material not spiritual)

ContributionsContributions

Rene DescartesRene Descartes – – Discourse on MethodDiscourse on Method Idea of Idea of “doubt”“doubt” Supported only those things that Supported only those things that reasonreason

said were true; rejects assumptionssaid were true; rejects assumptions ““I think, therefore I am”I think, therefore I am” Rationalism Rationalism – use the mind or reason to – use the mind or reason to

understand the worldunderstand the world Developed Developed analytical geometryanalytical geometry

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes

John Locke John Locke – – every person is born a every person is born a tabula rasatabula rasa (blank slate)(blank slate); knowledge from environment, not heredityknowledge from environment, not heredity

Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government1. People possess 1. People possess natural rights natural rights of life, liberty & of life, liberty & propertyproperty

2. Governments exist by the 2. Governments exist by the consent consent of the governed of the governed (i.e. the PEOPLE put them there)(i.e. the PEOPLE put them there)

3. Governments are to 3. Governments are to protect these rightsprotect these rights

4. The people 4. The people may replace a government may replace a government that fails to that fails to protect these rightsprotect these rights

*Basis for the Declaration of Independence & Bill of *Basis for the Declaration of Independence & Bill of RightsRights

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes

Montesquieu – Montesquieu – The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws Separation of Powers into 3 BranchesSeparation of Powers into 3 Branches – WHY? – WHY?

1. Legislative – 1. Legislative – makesmakes laws laws

2. Executive – 2. Executive – enforcesenforces (executes) laws (executes) laws

3. Judicial – 3. Judicial – interpretsinterprets laws laws Checks and balances Checks and balances – each branch limited and – each branch limited and

controlled the others (examples?)controlled the others (examples?) Innocent until proven guiltyInnocent until proven guilty Slavery, torture, religious persecution, censorship Slavery, torture, religious persecution, censorship

are wrongare wrong Basis for the U.S. ConstitutionBasis for the U.S. Constitution

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes Voltaire - Candide Rationalist; Criticized Church but favored

religious tolerance (deist) Free speech, religion, press; hated prejudice and

superstition “I disagree with what you say but will defend to

the death your right to say it.” Deism – god was the creator but the universe

then ran according to natural laws and forces Denis Diderot – strongly criticized Christianity

(“fanatical and unreasonable”); wrote a vast Encyclopedia of science, arts, etc.

The Philosophes

Rousseau - The Social Contract 1. Society agreed to be governed;2. Individuals must abide by the majority

(popular sovereignty) – will of the people “Man is born free and everywhere he is in

chains.” Rich should not enjoy special privileges Emile – focused on importance of education –

should foster, rather than restrict children’s natural instincts.

The PhilosophesThe Philosophes

Cesar Beccaria, Cesar Beccaria, On Crimes and On Crimes and PunishmentsPunishments

Focused on justice system:Focused on justice system: Criticized torture, cruelty, Criticized torture, cruelty, capital capital

punishmentpunishment Death PenaltyDeath Penalty

Criticized irregular and slow trialsCriticized irregular and slow trials Where do we see these things Where do we see these things

addressed in our country today?addressed in our country today?

Other contributionsOther contributions

Adam Smith – Adam Smith – The Wealth of NationsThe Wealth of Nations1.1. Natural law should apply to the economyNatural law should apply to the economy

1.1. Supply and demandSupply and demand

2. People should pursue their own economic 2. People should pursue their own economic self-interestsself-interests

3. Government should protect society, 3. Government should protect society, defend its citizens, keep up public works defend its citizens, keep up public works but **leave the economy alone - but **leave the economy alone - laissez laissez fairefaire (hands off) (hands off)

*Foundation of *Foundation of capitalismcapitalism4. Competition is a key element of capitalism4. Competition is a key element of capitalism

Women in the EnlightenmentWomen in the Enlightenment Mary Wollstonecraft - A Vindication of the

Rights of Women Feminism (women’s rights) - Criticized men

who said governments have too much power over people – same as men having too much power over women

Education is the key to women’s rights Enlightenment is based on reason; if women

have reason, they should have the same rights as men

Salons – elegant rooms where philosophers men, discussed, socialized