A Scientific & Intellectual Revolution

Foundation in the Renaissance Renaissance spirit Renaissance spirit Questioning leads to scientific achievements Questioning leads to scientific achievements Use of reason and logic (not medieval superstition) Use of reason and logic (not medieval superstition) Scientific method and experimentation Scientific method and experimentation Search for truth in science; scientific progress Search for truth in science; scientific progress Renaissance artists contributed by close attention to detail; focus on perspective and proportions Renaissance artists contributed by close attention to detail; focus on perspective and proportions Printing press helped spread ideas Printing press helped spread ideas

Foundation cont. Built upon writings of Greeks & Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Ptolemy) Built upon writings of Greeks & Romans (Aristotle, Archimedes, Plato, Ptolemy) Developed the scientific method of observation and experimentation Developed the scientific method of observation and experimentation Challenged medieval superstition Challenged medieval superstition Uncovered much knowledge of the physical world (new technology – telescope, microscope) Uncovered much knowledge of the physical world (new technology – telescope, microscope)

Achievements Ptolemy – Geocentric Theory Ptolemy – Geocentric Theory Earth is center of universe, planets revolve around it Earth is center of universe, planets revolve around it Copernicus – Heliocentric Theory Copernicus – Heliocentric 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 (axis) The earth revolves around the sun (axis) Disproved Ptolemy’s theory Disproved Ptolemy’s theory

Achievements cont. Kepler – German astronomer & mathematician Kepler – German astronomer & mathematician Laws of planetary motion Laws of planetary motion However, planets follow an elliptical, not circular orbit in revolving around the sun However, planets follow an elliptical, not circular orbit in revolving around the sun

Achievements cont. Galileo – Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo – Italian astronomer and physicist Greatly improved the telescope Greatly improved the telescope Further confirmed Copernican theory Further confirmed Copernican theory Also found mountains, several moons around Jupiter, sunspots, etc. Also found mountains, several moons around Jupiter, sunspots, etc. Found himself increasingly under suspicion by the Catholic Church Found himself increasingly under suspicion by the Catholic Church First thermometer First thermometer

Achievements Newton – English mathematician, astronomer, physicist Newton – English mathematician, astronomer, physicist Calculated the law of motion and gravity Calculated the law of motion and gravity Invented mathematical analysis called calculus Invented mathematical analysis called calculus Discovered laws of light and color Discovered laws of light and color

Achievements cont Boyle – English chemist Boyle – English chemist Discovered the law of gases that is fundamental to modern chemistry Discovered the law of gases that is fundamental to modern chemistry Leeuwenhoek – Dutch naturalist Leeuwenhoek – Dutch naturalist Perfected the microscope Perfected the microscope Microorganisms Microorganisms Studied the previously invisible world of bacteria, protozoa, animal and plant cells Studied the previously invisible world of bacteria, protozoa, animal and plant cells

Achievements cont. Vesalius – Flemish physician Vesalius – Flemish physician Dissections of the human body Dissections of the human body Founded the science of anatomy Founded the science of anatomy Harvey – English physician Harvey – English physician Demonstrated that blood circulates through the body Demonstrated that blood circulates through the body Heart pumps blood Heart pumps blood Furthered the study of medicine Furthered the study of medicine

Achievements, cont. Sir Francis Bacon Sir Francis Bacon Developed scientific method Developed scientific method Use of reason in research Use of reason in research Inductive principles – from specifics to general conclusions Inductive principles – from specifics to general conclusions Louis Pasteur Louis Pasteur Use of heat to kill organisms Use of heat to kill organisms Pasteurization of milk Pasteurization of milk Edward Jenner Edward Jenner Smallpox vaccine Smallpox vaccine

Achievements Gregor Mendel Gregor Mendel Founder of science of genetics Founder of science of genetics Recognized inheritance of certain traits Recognized inheritance of certain traits Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus System of classifying living things into groups System of classifying living things into groups Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Species, etc. Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Species, etc.

Achievements (women) cont. Margaret Cavendish – scientist; humans have no power over nature Margaret Cavendish – scientist; humans have no power over nature Maria Winkelmann – discovered a comet Maria Winkelmann – discovered a comet No women invited to the academies (Royal Society of England, French Academy of Science) No women invited to the academies (Royal Society of England, French Academy of Science) Little changed about roles of women Little changed about roles of women

The Enlightenment Intellectual movement based in the scientific revolution Intellectual movement based in the scientific revolution Focus on reason Focus on reason Could apply the scientific method to understanding of all life Could apply the scientific method to understanding of all life Began to apply reason to governments Began to apply reason to governments Following natural law would lead to progress Following natural law would lead to progress

The Philosophes Intellectuals known by this name but not all were French Intellectuals known by this name but not all were French Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political scientists, social reformers Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political scientists, social reformers Came from all classes Came from all classes An international movement An international movement Rational criticism could be applied to everything Rational criticism could be applied to everything

Five Beliefs Reason – truth discovered by logic Reason – truth discovered by logic Nature – what is natural is good Nature – what is natural is good Happiness – secularism Happiness – secularism Progress – society can improve Progress – society can improve Liberty – political freedoms (rights) Liberty – political freedoms (rights)

Contributions cont. Blaise Pascal – sought to keep science and religion together; not mutually exclusive Blaise Pascal – sought to keep science and religion together; not mutually exclusive But trend to secularization (seeing the world as material not spiritual) But trend to secularization (seeing the world as material not spiritual)

Contributions Rene Descartes – Discourse on Method Rene Descartes – Discourse on Method Idea of “doubt” Idea of “doubt” Supported only those things that reason said were true; rejects assumptions Supported only those things that reason said were true; rejects assumptions “I think, therefore I am” “I think, therefore I am” Rationalism – use the mind or reason to understand the world Rationalism – use the mind or reason to understand the world Developed analytical geometry Developed analytical geometry

The Philosophes John Locke – every person is born a tabula rasa (blank slate)knowledge from environment, not heredity John Locke – every person is born a tabula rasa (blank slate); knowledge from environment, not heredity Two Treatises of Government Two Treatises of Government 1. People possess natural rights of life, liberty & property 2. Governments exist by the consent of the governed (i.e. the PEOPLE put them there) 3. Governments are to protect these rights 4. The people may replace a government that fails to protect these rights *Basis for the Declaration of Independence & Bill of Rights

The Philosophes Montesquieu – The Spirit of the Laws Montesquieu – The Spirit of the Laws Separation of Powers into 3 Branches – WHY? Separation of Powers into 3 Branches – WHY? 1. Legislative – makes laws 2. Executive – enforces (executes) laws 3. Judicial – interprets laws Checks and balances – each branch limited and controlled the others (examples?) Checks and balances – each branch limited and controlled the others (examples?) Innocent until proven guilty Innocent until proven guilty Slavery, torture, religious persecution, censorship are wrong Slavery, torture, religious persecution, censorship are wrong Basis for the U.S. Constitution Basis for the U.S. Constitution

The 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 Society agreed to be governed; 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 Philosophes Cesar Beccaria, On Crimes and Punishments Cesar Beccaria, On Crimes and Punishments Focused on justice system: Focused on justice system: Criticized torture, cruelty, capital punishment Criticized torture, cruelty, capital punishment Death Penalty Death Penalty Criticized irregular and slow trials Criticized irregular and slow trials Where do we see these things addressed in our country today? Where do we see these things addressed in our country today?

Other contributions Adam Smith – The Wealth of Nations Adam Smith – The Wealth of Nations 1. Natural law should apply to the economy 1. Supply and demand 2. People should pursue their own economic self- interests 3. Government should protect society, defend its citizens, keep up public works but **leave the economy alone - laissez faire (hands off) *Foundation of capitalism 4. Competition is a key element of capitalism

Women 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