1. The Scientific Revolution

2. What is the Scientific Revolution?
What: A new way of thinking about the natural world
Based on observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs
When: Began in Mid 1500’s through 1700’s (16th - 18th centuries)
Where: Throughout Europe

3. Before the Scientific revolution...
Medieval Thought
Geocentrism
Earth = center of universe
Sun moves around earth
Why this view?
Observations
Christianity taught that God created earth at center of universe

4. Why change Now? Renaissance -> Greek writings
Translation of Muslim works -> new sciences
Exploration -> discoveries
Printing Press -> transmission of ideas
Reformation -> challenging of the church

5. The Scientists Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543); Polish
Heliocentric Theory : planets revolve around the sun
Johannes Kepler ( ); German
Planets moved around sun in ellipses not circles.
Mathematically demonstrated Copernicus premise was true

6. The Scientists Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642); Italian
Improved the telescope and used it to prove Copernican theory (heliocentric)
Laws of motion
Father of observational astronomy
Tried before the Inquisition in 1633 on accounts of heresy for supporting Copernican theory. He relinquished his beliefs under threat of torture.
Died under house arrest.

7. <-- Francis Bacon
Rene Descartes -->

8. The Scientists Francis Bacon (1561-1626); English
Developed the experimental method/scientific method ( also called empiricism)
Rene Descartes ( ); French
Mathematician - Cartesian geometry
Believed in the importance of logic and reason
Doubt everything!
“ I think, therefore I am”

9. The Scientists Francis Bacon (1561-1626); English
Developed the experimental method/scientific method ( also called empiricism)
Rene Descartes ( ); French
Mathematician - Cartesian geometry
Believed in the importance of logic and reason
Doubt everything!
“ I think, therefore I am”

10. The Scientists Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727); English
Newtonian Physics - same rule that applies to motion of planets applies on earth
Laws of motion and universal gravity
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

11. The Technology Scientific Instruments
Microscope invented by Zacharias Janssen
Anton van Leeuwenhoek used microscope to observe bacteria, red blood cells, maggots
Thermometer - Gabriel Fahrenheit
Celsius Thermometer - Anders Celsius

12. Medicine and the Human body
Andre Vesalius published first book on observations while dissecting human corpse
William Harvey showed the heart pumps blood through the body
1796- Edward Jenner - vaccine for smallpox

13. Welcome to the Age of Reason
The Enlightenment
Welcome to the Age of Reason

14. Thomas Hobbes (1558 - 1679) English Leviathan (1651)
To escape a bleak life, people gave up their rights to a strong ruler
Saw destruction from English Civil War and believed a strong monarch was needed

15. John Locke (1632-1704) English Two Treatise on Government (1690)
Natural Rights - Life, Liberty, Property
Favored self government - If government does not suit the people, it should be overthrown
Lived during Glorious Revolution and English Bill of Rights

16. The Philosophes French Philosophers Five core concepts 1. Reason
2. Nature
3. Happiness
4. Progress
5. Liberty
Reason -Reason is the absence of intolerance, bigotry, or prejudice
Nature - natural was good and reasonable - natural laws of economics like there were laws of motion
Happiness - person lived by natural laws would find happiness
Progress - progress of society- used scientific approach in society
Liberty - French envied the rights the english had- believe through reason, society could be set free.

17. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778)
Swiss / French
The Social Contract (1762)
Believed civilization corrupted people
Only good government is one created by free individuals who consent -> this is his social contract
All people are equal
Grew up in a lower class family and disliked decadent French society, the nobility, and saw the negatives of absolute rule

18. Baron de Montesquieu (1689 - 1775)
French
On the Spirit of Laws (1748)
Separation of powers - division between law makers, judges, and executive power
Checks and Balances
Looked to British Constitutional Monarchy

19. Voltaire ( )
French
Various writings in history, poetry, and prose - Ex. Candide (1759)
Used satire to criticize clergy, nobles, french court
Believed in tolerance, religious freedom, freedom of speech
Sent to prison by French court, persecuted by French king and bishops

20. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759- 1797)
English
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
Women’s rights
Women should be educated, not just pretty objects
Influenced by English Bill of Rights and expansion of rights for men in England

21. Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) Italian Crimes and Punishment (1764)
Laws existed to preserve social order not to punish crimes
Punishment should fit the crime
Influenced by poor criminal justice system in Italy up to this point as well as by other Enlightenment thinkers.