unit 2: scientific revolution & the enlightenment
TRANSCRIPT
Unit 2: Scientific Revolution & The
Enlightenment
1609 Galileo observes heavens through telescope.
1687 Newton publishes law of gravity.
1690 John Locke defines natural rights.
Enlightenment and Revolution, 1550–178922
CHAPTER
Time Line
1550 1789
HOME
1543
Copernicus publishes heliocentric theory.
1628
William Harvey describes heart function.
1748
Montesquieu describes separation of powers.
1762
Catherine the Great rules Russia.
The Roots of Modern Science
The Medieval View Most knowledge in
the Middle Ages came from the Bible and Greek/Roman sources.
Supports geocentric theory—moon, sun, planets revolve around Earth
Why didn’t anyone challenge Aristotle, Ptolemy, & the Church?
During Dark Ages in Europe life was very, very tough (little food, little protection, a lot of disease)
No books to learn from…only the Bible.
Kings didn’t allow for public education…NO KNOWLEDGE.
The Roots of Modern Science
A New Way of Thinking Renaissance prompts new ways of thinking (1300-
1600) Scientific Revolution—new way of viewing the natural
world—based on observation and inquiry New discoveries, overseas exploration open up
thinking Scholars make new developments in astronomy and
mathematics.Questioned Greco-Roman ideasQuestioned Church teachings Use of scientific method and human intellect.
A Revolutionary Model of the Universe
The Heliocentric Theory Widely accepted geocentric
theory challenged as inaccurate
Copernicus develops the heliocentric theory—planets revolve around the sun
Later scientists mathematically prove Copernicus to be correctNicolaus
Copernicus
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Believed in Copernicus’s idea, but he also believed that the planets move in ellipses, or oval paths.
A Revolutionary Model of the Universe
Galileo’s Discoveries Italian scientist Galileo
Galilei makes key advances in astronomy.
He makes discovery about planet surfaces using telescope
Supports heliocentric theory 4 moons of Jupiter (Jupiter
has 8 moons) Sun spots Catholic clergy members forced
him to recant his findings under threat of excommunication and torture
Church officials placed Galileo under house arrest for the rest of his life in an attempt to silence him
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
Used math to prove the ideas of Copernicus and Galileo
Called the force gravity, or that all objects fall towards Earth
Said all of nature follows laws.
Motion in space and earth linked by the law of universal gravitation—holds that every object is universe attracts every other object
Newton views the universe as a vast, perfect mechanical clock.
The Scientific Method
A Logical Approach Revolution in thinking leads to development of
scientific method—a series of steps for forming and testing scientific theories
Bacon and Descartes Thinkers Bacon and Descartes help to create
scientific method Bacon urges scientists to experiment before
drawing conclusions Descartes advocates using logic and math to
reason out basic truths
The Scientific Method
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) René Descartes (1595-1650)
The Triumph of Reason
Rene Descartes is the founder of modern rationalism. This is the belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge.
To Descartes, one fact seemed to be beyond doubt—his own existence.
Descartes clarified this idea by the phrase, “I think, therefore I am” or “Cogito ergo sum.”
Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method
Sir Francis Bacon
What Does it all Mean?
A. Like the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution saw the proposal of many new ideas and techniques that challenged traditional thinking
B. This set the stage for the Enlightenment, a political movement of the 1600s and 1700s which involved political theorists questioning
traditional beliefs about government
Reflection Question
Do you exist to provide for the government, or does the government exist to provide for you?
Scientific Revolution influences the Enlightenment
Use of reasonNatural laws govern human behaviorApplication of the scientific method to solving
the problems of societyThe Enlightenment rejected traditional ideas
and supported a belief in human reason
Definitions…
What are natural/ unalienable rights?
What are natural laws?
What is a philosopher?
What ideas concerning Government came out of the Enlightenment?
Do Now – Analyze the following quote: “It is true that in democracies, the
people seem to act as they please; but Political Liberty does not consist in an unlimited freedom…we must have continually present to our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the law permits, and if a citizen could do what the laws forbid he would no longer be in possession of liberty, because all of his fellow citizens would have the same power.”
How does disobeying laws lead to a loss of liberty?
Philosophers and the “State of Man in Nature”
Man in the State of Nature:Human’s way of thinking, feeling and acting without any influence.
Are we Naturally good or evil? How do we control good or bad behavior?
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
People are cruel, greedy and selfish
If not strictly controlled they would fight, rob and oppose each other
Supports absolute monarchies.
Emphasized social contract
The state of nature is cruel
The Leviathan – publication
John Locke
More optimistic view of human nature
All people had natural or unalienable rights
The rights of life, liberty and propertyGov’t’s power comes from the
consent of the people and is therefore limited
Should protect natural rights/ if not had a right to rebel
Two Treatises of GovernmentInfluenced the Declaration of
Independence and the US Constitution
2 Different Views on Government and People
Thomas Hobbes Felt humans were
naturally selfish and wicked
Believed that w/o government there would be war between man. Felt to escape life one
should give all rights to a strong ruler. In exchange the people gain Law + Order This is the Social
Contract
John Locke More positive outlook
than Hobbes Felt people could learn
from experience Favored Self Government Felt everyone is born with
3 natural rights Life, Liberty and
Property. Believed a governments
power comes from the consent of the people.
What Was the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to a whole new world view. New theories about
government, philosophy, economics and religion. It focused mainly on politics and society and involved the writing of many French political writers and philosophers known as the
“Philosophes”
Enlightenment Principles
• Religion, tradition, and superstition limited independent thought
• Accept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason, not on faith
• Scientific and academic thought should be secular
A meeting of French Enlightenment thinkers
According to the 18th- century philosopher Immanuel Kant, the “motto” of the Enlightenment was “Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own intelligence!”
Immanuel Kant
Baron de Montesquieu
Separation of PowersThree branches of gov’tLegislative, judicial, and executive branchesSystem of checks and balances/each branch
will keep the other from getting too powerful
US Constitution Separation of powers would prevent
tyranny“Power Should be a check to Power”
Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws (1748)
In it, Montesquieu described “separation of powers”
He modeled it after England, and said there should be 3 powers of government:
1. The legislative power, which makes laws2. The Executive power, which carries out laws3. The judicial power, which interprets the law
“Power should be a check to power.”
Jean Jacques Rousseau
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”
Civilization corrupted man’s natural goodness/
‘General will’ of the people creates a society/direct democracy
Wrote the “Social Contract”
Majority should work for the common good
Voltaire (1694–1778)
• Championed social, political, and religious tolerance
• Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, toleration, use of reason
• “ I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
• His ideas are found in the US Constitution EXCEPT the abolition of slavery.
Cesare Bonesana Beccaria
Beliefs Laws existed to preserve
social order, not avenge crime.
Accused should receive speedy trials.
Torture should never be used.
Degree of punishment should match seriousness of crime.
Capital punishment (death penalty) should be abolished.
The U.S. Constitution
• Separation of powers
• Checks and balances
• Bill of Rights
Painting depicting the Constitutional Convention
Mary Wollstonecraft
Women should be equally educated along with men.
Women should enter professions traditionally dominated by men like medicine and politics.
Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Impact of the Enlightenment
People have confidence that human reason can solve social problems
A more secular outlook emerges as scientific thinking replaces superstition, fear and intolerance
The individual becomes more important as people use their own ability to reason and judge
Impact of the Enlightenment
Governments and the Church did not like the ideas of the Enlightenment and many books were burned and scholars tortured and killed
Influenced the American, French , and Latin American Revolutions.
Influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Political impacts such as the Separation of Powers and Enlightened Despots, or rulers who believed in Enlightenment ideals
“Enlightened Monarchs”Most of Europe ruled by
absolute monarchsReceptive to
Enlightenment ideasInstituted new laws and
practices
Enlightened Monarchs• Frederick II, Prussia• Catherine the Great, Russia• Maria Theresa, Austria• Joseph II, Holy Roman Empire• Gustav III, Sweden• Napoleon I, France
Enlightened Despots
Some monarchs accepted Enlightenment ideas. They were known as Enlightened Despots.
Maria Theresa of Austria: improved the tax system/ Tax the clergy and the nobles/ made primary education available in her kingdom.
Joseph II: practiced religious toleration, ended censorship and abolished serfdom.
Catherine the Great: asked the nobles for advice, freed some of the peasants, built schools, and hospitals. Practiced religious toleration and promoted education for women.
How does the Enlightenment affect the American Revolution?
• The Glorious Revolution + Enlightenment prepared grounds for the American Revolution
• They encouraged the idea that the government should be in the interests of the governed rather than the ruler
Americans Win Independence
The Influence of the Enlightenment Colonial leaders push for independence, rely on
Enlightenment ideas Declaration of Independence—document justifying
colonial rebellion Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, uses
ideas of John Locke
Americans Create a Republic
The Federal System Constitution creates three branches of government Provides checks and balances—ensures branches
share power equally Promotes federal system—power divided between
nation and statesThe Bill of Rights
Some fear too much national power, few protections of rights
Leaders win support for Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights Ten amendments to Constitution that protect freedoms
1. Belief in Progress – actually believing that humanity could solve social problems
2. Secular Outlook – Not looking to the church for all knowledge
3. Importance of the Individual – looking to themselves for knowledge and guidance
LEGACY