Origins of the Scientific Revolution

1. The Scientific Revolution has its origins in the Renaissance, Humanism, and the Protestant Reformation.

2. The movement sought to understand the world on its own terms rather than the teachings of the Church.

The Invention of the Printing Press helped to spread scientific ideas

The First Debate 1. The Scientific Revolution began with a debate over the nature of the solar system.

2. Geocentric- The Church taught that everything revolves around the earth.

3. Scientists began to challenge this view.

Geocentric (earth centered) or Ptolemaic Model

Nicolaus Copernicus 1. In the early 1500’s, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus came up with his heliocentric theory.

2. Heliocentric Theory- the sun is at the center of the solar system.

3. Fearing punishment from the church, he did not publish On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres until the year he died.

Heliocentric (sun centered) or Copernican Model

On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres 1543

Johannes Kepler 1. Kepler further proved Copernicus correct by concluding that the planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits.

2. This gave the Copernican/ Heliocentric model the mathematical proof it needed.

3. The Church still denied it.

Kepler’s Elliptical Model

Elliptical Orbit of the Planets

Galileo Galilei 1. In 1609, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei invented his own telescope and began looking at the sky.

2. In 1610, he published Starry Messenger which outlined the conclusions he made from his observations.

Conclusions of Galileo Jupiter had four moons of its own The Sun had dark spots The Moon had a rough surface

In 1632, Galileo published Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Worldly Systems in which he compared Geocentric and Heliocentric Theory. He favored Heliocentric.

In 1633, the Church put Galileo on trial and ordered him to recant. He did and was placed under house arrest until he died.

P-Source: Trial of Galileo

Francis Bacon 1. The Astronomy debate helped to inspire Francis Bacon and his scientific method.

2. Bacon believed the you must observe and experiment before one could draw a conclusion not the other way around.

The Scientific Method

Isaac Newton 1. In the late 1600’s, English physicist Isaac Newton shattered the world of science forever.

2. He came up with two key concepts: the Law of Motion and the Law of Gravity.

Gravity- Anything with mass is attracted to other mass. Explains planetary motion.

The Law of Motion- An object in motion will stay in motion

until acted upon by another force. For every action, there is an opposite

and equal reaction.

1687- The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

Medicine- Andreas Vesalius and Human Anatomy

In the 1670’s, Dutch Scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek examined bacteria and red blood cells using a microscope.

Edward Jenner and the world’s first vaccine (smallpox) late 1700’s.

The Enlightenment 1. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement which began in the 1600’s.

2. Also known as the Age of Reason.

3. It is similar to the Scientific Revolution. However, instead of re-examining the physical world, it sought to reexamine the social world (i.e. humans and their institutions).

Enlightenment View Descartes- “I think therefore I am” Kant- Question Everything

Causes of the Enlightenment Crusades- Greco-Roman Philosophy on

Government and Society The Renaissance and New Learning Humanism The Protestant Reformation and the

challenge to the Church’s authority

Enlightenment philosophers believed that you can understand government and society in the same way you can understand the natural world—through observation, logic, and experimentation.

Thomas Hobbes 1. Thomas Hobbes is regarded as the first Enlightenment Philosopher.

2. He lived through the English Civil War and developed a unique view on government.

3. He believed people were naturally wicked and selfish.

Hobbes’ Social Contract- In order to escape the evils of man, people gave their freedom over to strong government in exchange for law and order.

P-Source: Hobbes’ The Leviathan

John Locke 1. English philosopher John Locke wrote a generation after Hobbes.

2. He came up with a different view on the nature and of humans and the social contract.

3. He believed all humans are born with natural rights—life, liberty, and property.

Locke’s Social Contract- People create governments and give up some freedoms in exchange for the protection of their natural rights.

P-Source: Second Treatise on Government

France 1. France became the center of the Enlightenment.

2. Most great Enlightenment philosophers came from France.

3. The word for an Enlightenment philosopher is Philosophe (French for philosopher).

Voltaire 1. Philosopher, Playwright, and Political Scientists.

2. Voltaire wrote over 70 works.

3. He pushed for equality, tolerance, reason, and freedom of speech and religion.

4. He often used satire.

Example of SatireVoltaire P-Source

Charles de Secondat-The Baron de Montesquieu

1. Although French, Montesquieu admired the British political system.

2. He believed it illustrated a “Separation of Powers.”

3. He believed that the different branches of government should be separated.

Montesquieu -Separation of Powers in the U.S.

Made Possible by a System of Check and Balances

Jean Jacques Rousseau

1. Rousseau believed that people are born naturally free, and governments take away that freedom.

2. The Social Contract- Roseau believed that part of the agreement was to limit the control that government has.

3. He believed in a direct democracy.

Rousseau- “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

Cesare Bonesana Beccaria Argued that punishing criminals was

done to preserve social order not the avenge crimes

He argued against “Cruel and Unusual” punishment and even the death penalty

Mary Wollestonecraft

1. One of the few female Philosophes.

2. She published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792.

3. She argued that women were the intellectual equals of men and should be allowed to participate in public affairs.

P-Source: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Many wealthy women also helped to spread ideas by hosting Salons. These were social gatherings were Philosophes would come to debate social issues.

Deism 1. Many Philosophes rejected Christianity.

2. Instead they pushed for a religious philosophy known as Deism.

3. Deists believe that God created the Universe and stepped back. God does not interfere with the world.

4. This allows for God but also scientific reasoning.

“God the Watchmaker” Reading- Deism P-Source: Benjamin Franklin letter

Enlightened Despots

1. These were monarchs who embraced some Enlightenment ideas.

2. Fredrick II of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria, and Catherine II of Russia.

3. Although they liked some of their ideas, they sill held absolute power.

Catherine II “Catherine the Great” corresponded with Voltaire

The Founding Fathers of the United States were all educated in Enlightenment Philosophy. So much so, that the U.S. and its Constitution are seen as an Enlightenment experiment.

P-Source: Declaration of Independence and John Locke

1. Adam Smith was part of the “Scottish enlightenment” and focused on economics. He wrote the book The Wealth of Nations (1776).

2. Wealth of Nation is not the amount of gold or silver but instead the labor of famers, artisans and craftsmen.

3. States should leave economic matters alone (Laissez-Faire)