AP World History POD #14 – Age of Transition Church v. Science

Class Discussion Questions McKay- “The Scientific Revolution”, pp

What were the scientific beliefs of pre 1500 Europe based on? Ideas of the universe were based on the ancient ideas of Aristotle Ideas of the universe were based on the ancient ideas of Aristotle Geocentric model of the universe (heaven was beyond the 10 spheres that circled the earth) Geocentric model of the universe (heaven was beyond the 10 spheres that circled the earth) Four elements – air, fire, water, and earth Four elements – air, fire, water, and earth Objects moved at a constant speed Objects moved at a constant speed

Why did these beliefs and attitudes prevail? Offered an understandable, common sense explanation for what the eye actually saw Offered an understandable, common sense explanation for what the eye actually saw Aristotle’s ideas as interpreted by theologians fit nicely with Church Doctrine Aristotle’s ideas as interpreted by theologians fit nicely with Church Doctrine This theory established a place for God and Christian souls (ten concentric spheres) This theory established a place for God and Christian souls (ten concentric spheres)

What were the causes of the Scientific Revolution? Establishment of medieval universities created centers where free inquiry could take place Establishment of medieval universities created centers where free inquiry could take place Renaissance – reintroduced classical works where theoretical differences were able to be investigated and resolved Renaissance – reintroduced classical works where theoretical differences were able to be investigated and resolved Overseas expansion called for the development of new scientific instruments Overseas expansion called for the development of new scientific instruments New improvements in scientific methodology were made New improvements in scientific methodology were made

What position does the church take in regard to these new attitudes? The church opposed any theory that contradicted what they had been espousing for the previous millennium The church opposed any theory that contradicted what they had been espousing for the previous millennium Church ideology was based on the words of the Bible and the theories of the Greco-Roman philosophers Church ideology was based on the words of the Bible and the theories of the Greco-Roman philosophers

Why does the church adopt such a draconian position? The church did not want their authority questioned The church did not want their authority questioned The church was already under attack from the Protestant Reformation The church was already under attack from the Protestant Reformation An admission of mistake by the church would lead to an erosions of their claim of infallibility An admission of mistake by the church would lead to an erosions of their claim of infallibility What else may they be wrong about????????? What else may they be wrong about?????????

Miscellaneous Thoughts By the 18 th century there was a changing focus in thought. While a few individuals abandoned religious beliefs, the role of churches and religion in earthly affairs was substantially reduced By the 18 th century there was a changing focus in thought. While a few individuals abandoned religious beliefs, the role of churches and religion in earthly affairs was substantially reduced The world was becoming much more secular The world was becoming much more secular Modern Science – precise knowledge of the physical world based on the union of experimental observations with sophisticated mathematics – crystallized in the 17 th century – science became independent and even primary for many educated people Modern Science – precise knowledge of the physical world based on the union of experimental observations with sophisticated mathematics – crystallized in the 17 th century – science became independent and even primary for many educated people

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Francis Bacon? Knowledge should be pursued through empirical, experimental research Knowledge should be pursued through empirical, experimental research Formalized the empirical method Formalized the empirical method Hypothesis, test, evaluate, new hypothesis Hypothesis, test, evaluate, new hypothesis

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Rene Descartes? Link between geometry and algebra – Cartesian Dualism Link between geometry and algebra – Cartesian Dualism Doubted everything until it could be proven Doubted everything until it could be proven

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Nicolaus Copernicus? Revived a Greek idea of the heliocentric model of the universe (Aristarchus) Revived a Greek idea of the heliocentric model of the universe (Aristarchus) On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres (1543) – one year after his death On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres (1543) – one year after his death Copernican Hypothesis – (1) stars at rest (2) universe of immense size (3) destroyed basic idea of Aristotelian physics Copernican Hypothesis – (1) stars at rest (2) universe of immense size (3) destroyed basic idea of Aristotelian physics Questions – (1) Where was the realm of perfection? (2) Where was heaven and the throne of God? Questions – (1) Where was the realm of perfection? (2) Where was heaven and the throne of God? The Copernican Hypothesis drew harsh attack and criticism from religious leaders, especially Protestants – the Catholic Church officially declared the treaty false in 1616 The Copernican Hypothesis drew harsh attack and criticism from religious leaders, especially Protestants – the Catholic Church officially declared the treaty false in 1616

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Tycho Brahe? Astronomer Astronomer Agreed with the theory of Copernicus Agreed with the theory of Copernicus Observed and recorded planetary and star movement for 20 years Observed and recorded planetary and star movement for 20 years Limited understanding of mathematics prevented him from making sense out of the data he collected Limited understanding of mathematics prevented him from making sense out of the data he collected

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Johannes Keppler? Assistant to Brahe Assistant to Brahe Three Laws of Planetary Motion (used Brahe’s data) – (1) Orbits of the planets around the sun are elliptical (2) Planets do not move at a uniform speed (3) The time it takes a planet to make a complete orbit around the sun is related to distance from the sun Three Laws of Planetary Motion (used Brahe’s data) – (1) Orbits of the planets around the sun are elliptical (2) Planets do not move at a uniform speed (3) The time it takes a planet to make a complete orbit around the sun is related to distance from the sun Proved mathematically the precise relations of a heliocentric model of the solar system Proved mathematically the precise relations of a heliocentric model of the solar system

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Galileo Galilei? Examined motion and mathematics Examined motion and mathematics Used experimental method and controlled experiments to determine what actually happened Used experimental method and controlled experiments to determine what actually happened Law of Inertia – object at rest stays at rest (object in motion stays in motion – Newton’s first law) unless acted upon by an outside force Law of Inertia – object at rest stays at rest (object in motion stays in motion – Newton’s first law) unless acted upon by an outside force Created his own version of a telescope Created his own version of a telescope Used the telescope to discover new evidence to support the Copernican theory Used the telescope to discover new evidence to support the Copernican theory Dialogue On the Two Chief Systems of the World (1632) Dialogue On the Two Chief Systems of the World (1632)

What were the new attitudes and contributions offered by Isaac Newton? His treatise Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, laying the groundwork for classical mechanics, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries and is the basis for modern engineering. He showed that the motions of objects on Earth and of celestial bodies are governed by the same set of natural laws by demonstrating the consistency between Kepler's laws of planetary motion and his theory of gravitation, thus removing the last doubts about heliocentrism and advancing the scientific revolution. His treatise Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, laying the groundwork for classical mechanics, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries and is the basis for modern engineering. He showed that the motions of objects on Earth and of celestial bodies are governed by the same set of natural laws by demonstrating the consistency between Kepler's laws of planetary motion and his theory of gravitation, thus removing the last doubts about heliocentrism and advancing the scientific revolution.Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematicauniversal gravitationlaws of motionclassical mechanicscelestialKepler's laws of planetary motionheliocentrismscientific revolutionPhilosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematicauniversal gravitationlaws of motionclassical mechanicscelestialKepler's laws of planetary motionheliocentrismscientific revolution