Toward a New Worldview
The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
Introduction
Profound change in the European world-view in the late 16th and 17th centuries
Primary cause was the Scientific Revolution (1543-present)
The most profound change in human history? New intellectual climate differed from medieval &
early modern world-view: Rejection of authority “Best” knowledge was practical Demystification of the universe
Scientists of this era differed from predecessors in combining mathematics and experiment
Introduction
Roots – science & technology from: Ancient Egypt – pyramids, mathematics China – movable type, paper, astronomy Islam – medicine, ancient Greek texts,
astronomy, mathematics Medieval Europe – alchemy, herbalists,
cathedrals Translation of all of these materials into
the vernacular
Scientific Thought in 1500
The Aristotelian/Ptolemaic Universe Geocentric 10 separate, transparent, crystal spheres
First 8 held the moon, sun, planets, stars Heaven lay beyond the 10th sphere Angels kept the spheres moving Common sense backs this up. The sun appears to move
around the Earth
The Church invested greatly in this world-view God had deliberately placed earth at the center of
the universe Earth was special
The Geocentric UniverseThe Geocentric (Ptolemaic) Universe
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Polish monk Observed patterns of star
and planet movement for 25 years
On the Revolutions of Celestial Bodies (1543)
Heliocentric Theory Called into question the
literal truth of the Scriptures Copernicus waited until he
was near death to publish his findings.
Why???
The Heliocentric (Copernican) Universe
C. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Mathematical laws govern the motion of the planets
Elliptical orbits Planets do not
move at uniform speeds in their orbits
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Ingenious scientist Proves many of
Aristotle’s ideas wrong Objects fall at the
same speed Improved on the
Telescope Jupiter had 4 moons
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Made observations that proved the Copernican view of the universe Moon- uneven Sunspots
Wrote in the vernacular
His findings help further Copernicus’s Heliocentric Theory
Video
Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany (1615)
Written to address the conflict between the Bible and heliocentric theory
Argued that the Bible must be interpreted in light of scientific knowledge
Argued for a non-literal interpretation of the Bible
Galileo declared the Bible teaches how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go
The letter began Galileo’s troubles with the Catholic Church
Trouble for Galileo
1616- Catholic Church tells Galileo not to support the ideas of Copernicus
1632- Publishes Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
The book clearly supports Copernicus Video 1633 – Church forced Galileo to recant;
placed under house arrest. Video His ideas live on though! Why?
The Scientific Method
Logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas.
1. Problem or question arising from an observation
2. Hypothesis is formed. 3. Test the hypothesis. 4. Analyze and interpret the data Results either confirm or disprove the
hypothesis Video
René Descartes (1596-1650)
French mathematician and philosopher
A transitional figure between the medieval past and modern science
A rationalist
Discourse on Method (1637) Descartes wished to
develop a method that could be used to yield scientific truth
Argued that abstract reasoning and math were a more reliable path to truth; our senses could deceive us
Cogito ergo sum (“I think, therefore I am”)
Isaac Newton Great English Scientist Video Defines the Theory of Gravity Comes up with 3 laws of motions 1. An object in motion stays in motion and
an object at rest stays at rest, unless acted on by an outside force.
2. Acceleration of an object will increase if the amount of force is increases. (F= MxA)
3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Other Inventions
Evangelista Torricelli- Barometer Gabrial Fahrenheit- Thermometer- 32
is freezing Anders Celsisu- Thermometer- 0 is
freezing William Harvey- The heart acts as a
pump for blood. Edward Jenner- Vaccine for smallpox
More Discoveries
Robert Boyle- Father of Modern Chemistry
challenges Aristotle’s idea of 4 elements (fire, water, air, earth)
Proposed that matter was made up of smaller primary particles. (atoms)
Consequences of the Scientific Revolution
Rise of the “Scientific Community”--Royal Society of London (1662)--Academy of Royal Sciences (1666)
The modern scientific method
A universe ordered according to natural laws
Significance of the Scientific Revolution
Contributions of these scientists made the universe comprehensible for the first time
The individual became much more important; collective authority was not the source of wisdom…individual intellect was
After the Revolution, God was viewed by many as either a remote “master mechanic”, or his existence began to be doubted
Began long adversarial relationship between science and religion
The Revolution laid the foundation for the Enlightenment of the 18th century…
The Enlightenment
Intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries…a product of the Scientific Revolution
Key principles of the Enlightenment: Belief in human reason Belief in the scientific method Progress, or “easing man’s estate”
Enlightenment ideals often came into conflict with religion
Blossomed in 18th century France Philosophers and philosophes
Two Views on Government
Thomas Hobbes- Wrote Leviathan in 1651
He felt that all humans were selfish and wicked.
Governments are needed to keep order. Without them life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Two Views on Government
To escape this life people gave up their rights to a strong ruler.
This agreement is called the “social contract.”
The ruler needs total power to keep order.
Absolute Monarchy is the best type of government
Two Views on Government
John Locke Better view of Human
nature Humans can learn
from mistakes and are reasonable beings
People could govern themselves
Two Views on Government
All men are born free and equal. All have 3 NATURAL RIGHTS LIFE LIBERTY PROPERTY The job of the government is to protect
these rights. If the government fails people have the right
to overthrow it. His ideas justify the overthrow of James II
and help inspire the American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation
The Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
The Declaration of Independence
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
The Declaration of Independence
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.
Video
The Philosophes
French Philosophers Believed that you could apply reason, logical
thinking, to all aspects of life, not just science Beliefs Truth can be discovered by reason. Reason is the
absence of intolerance, bigotry, or prejudice. Nature is good and reasonable. Natural for humans,
just as there are natural laws in nature Society can be set free through reason
Famous Philosophes Francois Marie Arouet- Voltaire Criticized religion. He saw it as intolerant Montesquieu- believed that the British government
was the best because of how the power was divided.
His ideas became the basis for the idea of “Separation of Powers.”
“Power should be a check to power.” Rousseau- Civilization corrupts people. Social
contract- people give up power to kings, if kings misuse power, you have the right to rebel
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” Beccaria- People should receive a speedy trial,
torture should not be used, and death penalty should be outlawed
Social Contract
America
Many of these ideas become popular in the Americas
Our founding fathers apply these ideas Many ideas of the Enlightenment form
basis for our government today.
U.S. Constitution: An Enlightened Document
Enlightenment Idea Locke- Government’s
power comes from the consent of the people.
Montesquieu- Separation of Powers
Voltaire- Free Speech and Religious Tolerance
Beccaria- Accused have rights, no torture
U.S. Constitution Preamble- “We the
people, Limited power of federal government
Federal system of gov., powers divided among 3 branches, system of checks and balances
Freedom of speech and religion
No cruel and unusual punishment
Adam Smith 1723-1790 Came up with the idea
for capitalism, economic system in which money is invested in business ventures with the goal of making a profit
Our economic system If government allows free
trade, everyone prospers
If individuals work for their best interests, the world will be orderly and progressive
Major contribution is the idea of laissez faire capitalism- capitalism without any government interference in the economy
Against helping poor workers
Invisible hand regulates economy
Enlightened Monarchs
Monarch’s who make changes to reflect the spirit of the Enlightenment and give more rights to their people
Supported the ideas of the philisophes, but did not want to give up any power
Results of the Enlightenment
F.A.S.T. Fueled democratic revolutions (USA,
France, etc) Applied reason to the human world
(government, law, etc) not just science Stimulated religious tolerance
(Freedom of Religion Taught that our rights come from
natural law, not governments