The Scientific RevolutionThe Scientific Revolution

Daniel In the Lion’s Den - Ruben

OutlineOutlineI. I. Pre-Revolution thoughtPre-Revolution thoughtII. II. Causes of the RevolutionCauses of the RevolutionIII.III. Principles and Consequences Principles and Consequences

of the Revolutionof the RevolutionIV.IV. Main ScientistsMain ScientistsVI.VI. Impact of the RevolutionImpact of the Revolution

What is the Scientific What is the Scientific Revolution?Revolution?

It is the beginning of a great intellectual It is the beginning of a great intellectual transformation that leads to the modern worldtransformation that leads to the modern worldconcurrent with other major eventsconcurrent with other major events Copernicus is making discoveries at the time of the Copernicus is making discoveries at the time of the

religious wars are breaking out in Europereligious wars are breaking out in Europe by the end of the Revolution Europe is about to by the end of the Revolution Europe is about to

embark on the Enlightenment, a cultural movement embark on the Enlightenment, a cultural movement that largely rejected religion.that largely rejected religion.

I. Before the Scientific RevolutionI. Before the Scientific Revolution

Scientists seek to understand HOW Scientists seek to understand HOW things happenthings happen intent is to use science to “prove” God intent is to use science to “prove” God

existsexists earliest Scientists are usually priests/monksearliest Scientists are usually priests/monks earliest Scientists are astronomersearliest Scientists are astronomers

easy accesseasy accessspiritually significantspiritually significant

How things stoodHow things stoodAristotleAristotle dominates how world is thought to workdominates how world is thought to work

world at rest, motion caused by angelsworld at rest, motion caused by angels

PtolemyPtolemy astronomy based on Aristotleastronomy based on Aristotle

Ptolemy’s Geocentric System

PtolemyPtolemy astronomy with astronomy with

perfect circles for perfect circles for planetary motionplanetary motion

cycles and cycles and epicyclesepicycles

crystalline crystalline spheres fix each spheres fix each planet’s planet’s movementmovement

earth at center & earth at center & sun orbits earthsun orbits earth

WitchcraftWitchcraft

Middle Ages convicted witches do heavy Middle Ages convicted witches do heavy penance since they were misguidedpenance since they were misguidedView changes over timeView changes over time By Renaissance people began to believe that By Renaissance people began to believe that

witches actually flew and ate babieswitches actually flew and ate babies witches must have committed a pact with the witches must have committed a pact with the

devil of their own free willdevil of their own free will

Departing for the Sabbath An Assembly of Witches

Popular Images of witches (1600s)Popular Images of witches (1600s)

WitchcraftWitchcraft

Major witch hunts occur during the century from Major witch hunts occur during the century from 1560 to 1660 (slowly peters out after) 1560 to 1660 (slowly peters out after) Crosses the Atlantic to Salem Massachusetts in Crosses the Atlantic to Salem Massachusetts in

1692 1692

Witch hunts arise in areas experiencing Witch hunts arise in areas experiencing religious conflictreligious conflict Occurs in areas both Protestant and Catholic.Occurs in areas both Protestant and Catholic.

WitchcraftWitchcraft

Between 1450-1660Between 1450-1660 approximately 110,000 went to trialapproximately 110,000 went to trial approximately 60,000 were executedapproximately 60,000 were executed this is only for Church or government officiated trials - this is only for Church or government officiated trials -

many instances are recorded of communities acting many instances are recorded of communities acting on their ownon their own

Women comprise 75% of those executed.Women comprise 75% of those executed.

Examination of a WitchExamination of a Witch

Magical ThoughtMagical Thought

Belief in magic was widespreadBelief in magic was widespreadWhile most educated people professed not to believe, While most educated people professed not to believe, many still held charms, like Queen Elizabeth’s magic many still held charms, like Queen Elizabeth’s magic ring to ward off the plaguering to ward off the plagueMagic was viewed as being either good (tied to the Magic was viewed as being either good (tied to the church) or badchurch) or bad alternative was natural magicalternative was natural magic

astrologyastrologyalchemy.alchemy.

The Alchemist

- Jan Van der Straet

II. Causes of the Scientific II. Causes of the Scientific RevolutionRevolution

Medieval Intellectual Life Medieval Intellectual Life and Medieval Universitiesand Medieval UniversitiesThe Italian RenaissanceThe Italian RenaissanceRenewed emphasis on Renewed emphasis on mathematicsmathematicsRenaissance system of Renaissance system of patronagepatronageNavigational problems of Navigational problems of long sea voyageslong sea voyagesBetter scientific Better scientific instrumentsinstruments

III. Principles of the RevolutionIII. Principles of the Revolution

LLogic over faith: religion no longer the only ogic over faith: religion no longer the only possible explanation for events possible explanation for events OObserve, experiment & publish bserve, experiment & publish VVerifiable: Use of mathematics to prove a pointerifiable: Use of mathematics to prove a point MMoney: Patronageoney: Patronage QQuestioning: discrepancy between observation uestioning: discrepancy between observation and expectations springboards into a search for and expectations springboards into a search for truthtruth

IV. Consequences of the Scientific IV. Consequences of the Scientific RevolutionRevolution

Rise of the “Scientific Rise of the “Scientific Community”Community”--Royal Society of London --Royal Society of London (1662)(1662)--Academy of Royal --Academy of Royal Sciences (1666)Sciences (1666)The modern scientific The modern scientific methodmethodA universe ordered A universe ordered according to natural lawsaccording to natural laws

IV. Consequences of the Scientific IV. Consequences of the Scientific Revolution (cont)Revolution (cont)

Laws discovered by Laws discovered by human reasonhuman reason““De-Spiritualized” and de-De-Spiritualized” and de-mystified the Universemystified the UniverseMechanical View of the Mechanical View of the UniverseUniverseDeistic View of GodDeistic View of God--God as the cosmic --God as the cosmic capitalistcapitalist

Scientific MethodScientific Method

V. Main ScientistsV. Main Scientists

Astronomers: Copernicus, Kepler, GalileiAstronomers: Copernicus, Kepler, GalileiScientific Method: Bacon, DescartesScientific Method: Bacon, DescartesSynthesis: NewtonSynthesis: Newton

Nicholas Copernicus Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)(1473-1543)

Polish priest studied in ItalyPolish priest studied in Italyreturns to Poland and works on Astronomyreturns to Poland and works on Astronomywrites writes De Revolutionibus Orbitum De Revolutionibus Orbitum CoelestitumCoelestitum (On the Revolutions of (On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres)Heavenly Spheres)Earth is just another planet with a 24 hour Earth is just another planet with a 24 hour rotationrotationretains circular planetary motion retains circular planetary motion (perfection of the sphere).(perfection of the sphere).

Johannes KeplerJohannes Kepler (1571-1630) (1571-1630)

Student of mathematics and astronomyStudent of mathematics and astronomystudied with Tycho Brahestudied with Tycho Brahetested hypothesis after hypothesis until he tested hypothesis after hypothesis until he determined that planets move in ellipsesdetermined that planets move in ellipsesThree Laws of Planetary MotionThree Laws of Planetary Motion

1 planets move in ellipses with sun as one focusplanets move in ellipses with sun as one focus2 velocity of a planet is not uniformvelocity of a planet is not uniform3 equal area of the plane is covered in equal equal area of the plane is covered in equal

time by the planets.time by the planets.

Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei (1564-1642) (1564-1642)

AstronomyAstronomy used a telescope, proved the heavens are not perfect (craters on moon)used a telescope, proved the heavens are not perfect (craters on moon) supported Heliocentric systemsupported Heliocentric system

Laws of MotionLaws of Motion dropping weights from the Tower of Pisadropping weights from the Tower of Pisa imagined motion without constraint!!!!imagined motion without constraint!!!! Thought of inertiaThought of inertia

Problems with the churchProblems with the church argues for separation of science and theology because we are endowed with argues for separation of science and theology because we are endowed with

reasonreason 1633 banned by Church and house arrest1633 banned by Church and house arrest must recant heliocentric system to save neck.must recant heliocentric system to save neck.

Reactions to GalileoReactions to Galileo

Italy and SpainItaly and SpainMore freedom in France, England and HollandMore freedom in France, England and HollandUniversity of Padua was under Venice, the most anti-University of Padua was under Venice, the most anti-clerical state in Europe; Copernicus, Galileo and clerical state in Europe; Copernicus, Galileo and Harvey studied thereHarvey studied thereProtestants as hostile as Catholics on Biblical grounds, Protestants as hostile as Catholics on Biblical grounds, less state control in Protestant nations and in the end less state control in Protestant nations and in the end Protestant nations become more liberal than at first.Protestant nations become more liberal than at first.

Methodology in ScienceMethodology in Science

Some thinkers were concerned with the Some thinkers were concerned with the Scientific MethodScientific MethodFrancis Bacon and Rene Descartes were Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes were significant, both decided that all previous beliefs significant, both decided that all previous beliefs (outside religion) had to be ignored.(outside religion) had to be ignored.

Francis BaconFrancis Bacon (1561-1626) (1561-1626)

Proposed INDUCTIONProposed INDUCTION make a lot of observations then generalize rules of make a lot of observations then generalize rules of

nature - this leads to scientific observation as a nature - this leads to scientific observation as a methodmethod

Promoted the modern idea of progress Promoted the modern idea of progress because he wanted application of sciencebecause he wanted application of scienceProblem of InductionProblem of Induction there is no logical reason to go argue from any there is no logical reason to go argue from any

amount of experience to a general law.amount of experience to a general law.

Rene DescartesRene Descartes(1596-1650)(1596-1650)

Great mathematician - showed that any algebraic equation Great mathematician - showed that any algebraic equation could be plotted on a graphcould be plotted on a graphIn this manner he linked Greek with Hindu and Arabic In this manner he linked Greek with Hindu and Arabic knowledgeknowledgeAlso looked at DEDUCTION - go from a theory to the factsAlso looked at DEDUCTION - go from a theory to the factsOnly wants what is absolute “Cogito ergo sum” I think Only wants what is absolute “Cogito ergo sum” I think therefore I amtherefore I amleads to proof of God.leads to proof of God.

Isaac NewtonIsaac Newton (1642-1727) (1642-1727)

Possibly the greatest scientist who ever lived - born Possibly the greatest scientist who ever lived - born on the day Galileo diedon the day Galileo diedmath/physics/astronomymath/physics/astronomyauthor of author of Principia MathematicaPrincipia Mathematica in 1687 in 1687

bringing together Galileo’s discoveries about bringing together Galileo’s discoveries about motion on Earth and Kepler’s discoveries in the motion on Earth and Kepler’s discoveries in the heavensheavens

to do so he had to develop calculusto do so he had to develop calculusexplained heavenly motion that was tied to explained heavenly motion that was tied to observed motion on Earth.observed motion on Earth.

Isaac NewtonIsaac Newton

Provided a Provided a synthesis synthesis superior to superior to AristotleAristotlenotion of notion of inertia - only inertia - only have to explain have to explain changechangeThree Laws of Three Laws of MotionMotion

Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in nightGod said, “Let Newton be.” and all was light - Pope.

1 Bodies move in Bodies move in straight lines straight lines unless impeded unless impeded (inertia)(inertia)

2 Every action has Every action has an equal and an equal and opposite actionopposite action

3 every body every body attracts every attracts every other body with a other body with a force proportional force proportional to the distance to the distance betweenbetween

V. Effect of RevolutionV. Effect of RevolutionSocial impactSocial impact rich get richerrich get richer not much immediate direct change for peasants not much immediate direct change for peasants widens intellectual gapwidens intellectual gap

effect on navigation, map making and artillery effect on navigation, map making and artillery Science has innumerable social effects over time: new Science has innumerable social effects over time: new guns, bigger armies, more taxes, social discontent guns, bigger armies, more taxes, social discontent guns lead to European colonialism (more accurate cannon guns lead to European colonialism (more accurate cannon

fire)fire)

new way of observing the world.new way of observing the world.

Sight - Jan Brueghel