APEURO Lecture 4A

Mrs. Kray

APEURO Lecture 4A

Mrs. Kray

AristotleAristotle

Geocentric theoryGeocentric theory

PtolemyPtolemy

Last great ancient astronomer. Worked out complicated rules to explain minor irregularities in the movement of

planets. The ideas of these astronomers fit in nicely with Christian doctrines of medieval theologians and were

readily accepted.

GalenGalen

Human body contained 4 humors: blood, phlegm,

yellow bile, and black bile. Purging (vomiting) &

bleeding but humors back in balance

Human body contained 4 humors: blood, phlegm,

yellow bile, and black bile. Purging (vomiting) &

bleeding but humors back in balance

ScholasticismScholasticism

St. Thomas AquinasSt. Thomas Aquinas

e Method of learning taught by medieval academics

e Absorbed much Greek thinking (Aristotle)

e Primary purpose was to find answers to questions and resolve contradictions

e Method of learning taught by medieval academics

e Absorbed much Greek thinking (Aristotle)

e Primary purpose was to find answers to questions and resolve contradictions

Causes of the Scientific Revolution

Causes of the Scientific Revolutione Medieval universities

e Renaissance interest in nature

e Catholic Church’s interest in an accurate calendar

e Need for celestial navigation to support exploration

e Improved scientific instruments = better observationse Telescope, barometer, thermometer, pendulum

clock, microscope, air pump

e Improved scientific methodologye Francis Bacon & Rene Descartes symbolize

e Medieval universities

e Renaissance interest in nature

e Catholic Church’s interest in an accurate calendar

e Need for celestial navigation to support exploration

e Improved scientific instruments = better observationse Telescope, barometer, thermometer, pendulum

clock, microscope, air pump

e Improved scientific methodologye Francis Bacon & Rene Descartes symbolize

Nicholas Copernicus, 1473-1543

Nicholas Copernicus, 1473-1543e On the Revolutions of

the Heavenly Spheres, 1543

e Heliocentric theory

e Demonstrated how math-driven astronomy could lead to and support new theories of planetary motion

e On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, 1543

e Heliocentric theory

e Demonstrated how math-driven astronomy could lead to and support new theories of planetary motion

Copernican HypothesisCopernican Hypothesis

It’s a theory without support from observations until . . .

It’s a theory without support from observations until . . .

Tycho Brahe, 1546-1601Tycho Brahe, 1546-1601

e Studied the night sky for 20 years w/o a telescope! Had a limited

understanding of math

e Never fully accepted heliocentric theory

e He collected an enormous amount of data that aided future scientists like . . .

e Studied the night sky for 20 years w/o a telescope! Had a limited

understanding of math

e Never fully accepted heliocentric theory

e He collected an enormous amount of data that aided future scientists like . . .

Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630

e Brahe’s assistant

e Court astronomer to the HRE

e Determined planets traveled an elliptical path

e 3 Laws of Planetary Motion

e Brahe’s assistant

e Court astronomer to the HRE

e Determined planets traveled an elliptical path

e 3 Laws of Planetary Motion

Galileo Galilei, (1564-1642)Galileo Galilei, (1564-1642)e Provided empirical support

for heliocentric theory

e Built one of the 1st telescopes Starry Messenger (1610)

Challenged notion of “perfect” heavenly bodies b/c he saw moon was flawed

e Roman Inquisition, 1633 Could only teach

heliocentrism as a theory

Placed under house arrest for 9 yrs

e Provided empirical support for heliocentric theory

e Built one of the 1st telescopes Starry Messenger (1610)

Challenged notion of “perfect” heavenly bodies b/c he saw moon was flawed

e Roman Inquisition, 1633 Could only teach

heliocentrism as a theory

Placed under house arrest for 9 yrs

Isaac Newton, 1642-1727Isaac Newton, 1642-1727e Principia

Mathematica, 1687

e 3 Laws of Motion Universal law of

gravitation

e Invented calculus

e Universe obeyed natural laws with mathematical precision

e Principia Mathematica, 1687

e 3 Laws of Motion Universal law of

gravitation

e Invented calculus

e Universe obeyed natural laws with mathematical precision

“If I have been able to see so far, it is only because I stood on

the shoulders of giants”

“If I have been able to see so far, it is only because I stood on

the shoulders of giants”

Andreas Vesalius, 1514-1564

Andreas Vesalius, 1514-1564e The Structure of

the Human Body

e Based on dissections & precise drawings

e Contradicted many of Galen’s ideas about the human body

e The Structure of the Human Body

e Based on dissections & precise drawings

e Contradicted many of Galen’s ideas about the human body

William Harvey, 1578-1657William Harvey, 1578-1657e English physician

e Developed modern theory of blood flow with arteries & veins circulating oxygen through human tissue

e English physician

e Developed modern theory of blood flow with arteries & veins circulating oxygen through human tissue

Medical Care in Europe, 16th & 17th c.

Medical Care in Europe, 16th & 17th c.e Remained inadequate

Often based on outmoded classical ideas or dubious folk remedies

e Life expectancy remained low

e Beginnings of professionalization Aimed at excluding

traditional practitioners like midwives

e Remained inadequate Often based on

outmoded classical ideas or dubious folk remedies

e Life expectancy remained low

e Beginnings of professionalization Aimed at excluding

traditional practitioners like midwives

Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccineEdward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine

Francis Bacon, 1561-1626Francis Bacon, 1561-1626e Rejected

scholasticism Called for systematic

investigation & observation of nature

e Believed in experimentation

e Inductive thinking Take evidence, then

makes generalizations (CSI)

e Rejected scholasticism Called for systematic

investigation & observation of nature

e Believed in experimentation

e Inductive thinking Take evidence, then

makes generalizations (CSI)

Rene Descartes, 1596-1650Rene Descartes, 1596-1650e Discourse on Method

Argued for a deductive approach to knowledge

Start with a generalization then break it down from there (if, then statements)

e Initiated modern philosophy

e Cartesian dualism Everything divided into the

physical and spiritual Brain vs. mind

e Discourse on Method Argued for a deductive

approach to knowledge Start with a generalization

then break it down from there (if, then statements)

e Initiated modern philosophy

e Cartesian dualism Everything divided into the

physical and spiritual Brain vs. mind

“I think, therefore, I

am”

“I think, therefore, I

am”

Effects of the Scientific Revolution

Effects of the Scientific Revolution

e Emergence and growth of an international scientific community Led to competition & even more advances

e Introduced new knowledge about nature

e Revolutionized the way knowledge was obtained Refused to base conclusions on traditions or

established sources experimentation needed

e Primarily an intellectual revolution – little impact on economic life until the late 18th c

e Emergence and growth of an international scientific community Led to competition & even more advances

e Introduced new knowledge about nature

e Revolutionized the way knowledge was obtained Refused to base conclusions on traditions or

established sources experimentation needed

e Primarily an intellectual revolution – little impact on economic life until the late 18th c

o Newton served as its president

Royal Society of London, 1662

Royal Society of London, 1662

French Academy of Sciences, 1666

French Academy of Sciences, 1666

e Excluded from universities, scientific societies, and generally received an inferior education Exception: 15% of German astronomers in the 17th &

18th c.

e Querelle de femmes – (the women question) Many scientists maintained long-held prejudices

about women Some “science” used to justify limiting their social

and intellectual roles even further

e Women did participate despite obstacles but mostly unrevolutionary

e Excluded from universities, scientific societies, and generally received an inferior education Exception: 15% of German astronomers in the 17th &

18th c.

e Querelle de femmes – (the women question) Many scientists maintained long-held prejudices

about women Some “science” used to justify limiting their social

and intellectual roles even further

e Women did participate despite obstacles but mostly unrevolutionary

Did Women Experience a Scientific Revolution?

Did Women Experience a Scientific Revolution?

• Discovered a comet and helped prepare an astronomical calendar for the Berlin Academy of

Sciences

Maria Winkelmann, 1670-1720

Maria Winkelmann, 1670-1720

• Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam

Maria Sibylla Merian, 1647-1717

Maria Sibylla Merian, 1647-1717

• Translated Newton to make his abstract works more accessible to a mass audience

Emilie du ChateletEmilie du Chatelet

e Scientific Revolution resulted in an increased skeptical and secular attitude among European elites

e Skeptics rejected or suspended judgment on new information until empirical evidence or conformity with natural laws proved it valid

e Negative/Pessimistic View

e Big impact on European legal system – need for evidence

e Scientific Revolution resulted in an increased skeptical and secular attitude among European elites

e Skeptics rejected or suspended judgment on new information until empirical evidence or conformity with natural laws proved it valid

e Negative/Pessimistic View

e Big impact on European legal system – need for evidence

Origins of SkepticismOrigins of Skepticism

Michel Montaigne

“On Cannibals”

Michel Montaigne

“On Cannibals”

e Historical and Critical Dictionary

e What most people consider truth is often mere opinion

e People very gullible

e Foolish to hold strongly to one’s views

e Historical and Critical Dictionary

e What most people consider truth is often mere opinion

e People very gullible

e Foolish to hold strongly to one’s views

Pierre Bayle, 1647-1706Pierre Bayle, 1647-1706

e Jewish immigrant to Netherlands

e Rejected Descartes’ Cartesian Dualism All that we experience is

simply a modification of substance which is God

e Early atheist?

e Jewish immigrant to Netherlands

e Rejected Descartes’ Cartesian Dualism All that we experience is

simply a modification of substance which is God

e Early atheist?

Baruch Spinoza, 1632-1677

Baruch Spinoza, 1632-1677

Ethics as Determined in a

Geometric Manner

Ethics as Determined in a

Geometric Manner

e Deeply influenced by English Civil War

e Leviathan, 1651

e View of humans:

e People formed gov’t for protection (social contract)

e Philosophical justification for absolutism

e Deeply influenced by English Civil War

e Leviathan, 1651

e View of humans:

e People formed gov’t for protection (social contract)

e Philosophical justification for absolutism

Thomas Hobbes, 1588-1679

Thomas Hobbes, 1588-1679

e Second Treatise on Government, 1689 Justified Glorious

Revolution

e View of humans: tabula rasa Education could improve

you Environmentalist

e Natural rights

e Second Treatise on Government, 1689 Justified Glorious

Revolution

e View of humans: tabula rasa Education could improve

you Environmentalist

e Natural rights

John Locke, 1632-1704John Locke, 1632-1704