The Scientific Revolution & The Enlightenment
Mr. ErmerWorld History
Miami Beach Senior High
Scientists and Mathematicians begin to
investigate the world around them Thinkers of the time believe Math, as the
language of the universe, can unlock the door to knowledge
Ptolemaic Universe was a model which put Earth at the center—geocentric Copernicus argues for a heliocentric universe Kepler proves Copernicus correct
New Ideas
Math teacher, first European to use a
telescope to observe the stars and planets Proves stars are not just “balls of pure light”
Galileo gets in trouble with the Catholic Church, most scientists agree w/ Galileo
Galileo had set out to explain motion in the universe, never finds answer
Another scientist, Newton, does…
Galileo Galilei
Galileo
Newton attends Cambridge University
Professor of Mathematics Writes Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
(Principia), describes three laws of motion: Universal law of gravitation: all objects in the universe
are attracted to one another by gravity Proves that one mathematically proven law can
explain all motion in the universe. Establishes the idea that the universe works according
to a set of laws
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton
Rene Descartes, takes the new view of the
universe, and creates new view of humanity Develops a philosophy that stays until 20th Cen. Begins by “forgetting” everything he’s learned, comes up
with new ideas from scratch Accepted only things proved by reason Separation of mind and matter
Rationalism, based on belief that reason is chief source of knowledge
Francis Bacon: Scientific Method/Inductive Reason
Philosophy and Reason
18th Century philosophical movement of intellectuals
impressed by Scientific Rev Centered around “reason”, or using Scientific Method to
understand all life, to improve life Isaac Newton and John Locke= inspiration
John Locke argues that humans are born with blank minds, we learn through our senses perceiving the world around us. Change the surroundings, change the person/society Attempts to find “natural laws of politics”
Montesquieu attempts to establish a science of politics to encourage liberty and stability
Cesare Baccaria argues against capital punishment, and for stronger police force
Voltaire
The Enlightenment
Enlightened Intellectuals
Adam Smith, wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776), considered
founder of social sciences together with Physiocrats Laissez-faire: “to let do” the government should let business
do what it wants, and government should only do three things: Protect its people from invasion (army) Protect its people from each other (police) Build/maintain infrastructure (roads, canals) that are too expensive
for the private sector Theory of Progress
Belief that advances in natural science would lead to greater knowledge of human affairs and lead to prosperity, peace, and liberty
Subject society to rational analysis and replace religious values with secular values arrived at by reason rather than revelation
Economics
Rich people know how to read, and do
Learn a lot through reading various works Magazines and newspapers rise
London most famous for these new publications Salon: great rooms in homes of rich Europeans
where they can talk and share ideas, information and news
Intellectuals known as “philosophes” encourage the use of reason
Reading and Sharing Ideas
Deism
God as watchmaker Many new ideas attack Christianity
Many Europeans still very Christian 95% of Catholics go to Easter mass Many Protestant churches, controlled by the states,
lacked the same religious enthusiasm New Protestant movements arise
John Wesley, creates Methodist Church Becomes big movement in England, ends slave trade,
brings English middle and lower class together into a community of believers
Religion and the Enlightenment
On page 279, write and answer questions 1-6
Chapter 15, Lesson 2