The Enlightenment

The Scientific Revolution Ideas challenging ancient thinkers and the church New way of thinking about the natural world Based on careful observation, willingness to question accepted beliefs Spread through traveling to other lands, printing press Astronomy, mathematics (navigation)

Astronomy Geocentric Theory (middle ages) Heliocentric Theory Kepler Earth at center of universe Sun, moon, stars, planets rotate Aristotle, Ptolemy, Christianity Heliocentric Theory Copernicus studies 25 years Earth, stars, planets revolve around sun Contradicts religious views Kepler Planets revolve around the sun in ellipses

Geocentric/Heliocentric theories http://www.keplersdiscovery.com/Hypotheses. html Kepler’s foci http://www.drennon.org/science/kepler.htm Kepler’s “Wandering Stars” http://www.keplersdiscovery.com/Observatio ns.html

Astronomy Galileo Builds telescope Jupiter has four moons, sun has dark spots Moon has rough surface Challenges church’s idea that moon, stars are pure

Challenging the Church New ideas force questioning of church authority If people question the church in science, why not in other things, too? Galileo is warned by pope, but he still supports ideas of Copernicus and Ptolemy Threatened torture, rescinds ideas Lives under house arrest, dies as a prisoner Catholic church agrees that Galileo was right in 1992

Scientific Method Logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas Problem or question from observation Hypothesis Tested in experiment Analysis and interpretation to prove/disprove hypothesis Bacon and Descartes Bacon thinks science can improve life Urges scientists to experiment, conclude Descartes believes all should be doubted until proven (“I think, therefore I am”)

Newton Theory of Motion God as a clockmaker setting universe in motion Physical objects affected by same forces Motion of planets and all matter on earth and in space “Every object attracts every other object” Depends on mass of object and distance between God as a clockmaker setting universe in motion

Newton’s Laws http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/lea rning_modules/maths/06.TU.02/?section=4 http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/lea rning_modules/maths/06.TU.02/?section=6

Spread of Scientific Revolution Tools and instruments Microscope Barometer Thermometer Medicine and anatomy Dissection of human bodies Vaccine to prevent smallpox (cowpox) Chemistry Smaller primary particles (elements) Boyle’s law explains how volume, temp, and pressure of gas affect each other

The Enlightenment Definition: a new intellectual movement stressing reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems

Two Views of Government Thomas Hobbes Leviathan All humans are naturally selfish and wicked Without gov’t, life would be “nasty, brutish, and short” To have good life, give rights to strong ruler and in return receive law and order (social contract) Ruler needs total power to keep citizens under control (absolute monarchy)

Two Views of Government John Locke People can learn from experience and improve themselves People can govern own affairs and look after welfare of society (no abs. monarchy, but self) All born free and equal with three natural rights: life, liberty, property Government has responsibility to protect rights If gov’t fails, people should overthrow it Power of gov’t comes from consent of the governed

Philosophes Gather in Paris, Fr. Apply reason to all aspects of life Reason: truth discovered through reason/logic Nature: what is natural is good, reasonable Happiness: seek happiness here, not in death Progress: society, humankind should improve Liberty: freedoms granted in Glorious Rev, Bill of Rights Salons: places hosted by women of great learning

Voltaire Satire of clergy, aristocracy, gov’t Sent to prison, exiled Fights for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”~ Voltaire

Montesquieu Political liberty Britain is best-governed and politically balanced King and ministers have executive power (carry out laws) Parliament as legislative power (make laws) Judges of courts as judicial power (interpret laws) Division of power as separation of powers Power should be checked to prevent too much Checks and balances

Rousseau Individual freedom Civilization corrupts people’s natural goodness “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”~ Jean Jacques Rousseau Only good gov’t is one formed by people, guided by “general will” of society (direct democracy) Give up some rights for greater good Consent of the governed All people are equal, nobility should be abolished Ideas lead to French revolution

Beccaria Laws exist to preserve social order Criticizes abuse of justice Torturing witnesses and suspects Irregular proceedings in trials Cruel and unusual punishments Speedy and public trial Punishment based on seriousness of crime Abolish capital punishment

Women and the Enlightenment Traditional views toward women Education as good wife, mother No reading novels (It may corrupt) Mary Astell promotes education and criticizes inequality between men and women Mary Wollstonecraft Education to become virtuous and useful Women to enter medicine and politics Catherine the Great of Russia Applies ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria to gov’t (no torture/capital punishment, tolerance)

Legacy of the Enlightenment Belief in progress Growth of scientific knowledge Reason to solve social problems End to slavery, greater social equality Secular outlook Questioning of religion, the church Science and mathematic reason, not “God” (?) Importance of individual Looking to self, not religion Ability to reason for right and wrong Formation of government by individuals

Copernicus Hobbes Kepler Galileo Voltaire Rousseau Montesquieu Locke