The Scientific Revoluti

on

Scientific Revolution

These years saw the biggest advances in science since the Greeks.

(1650-1720)

Why so long without advances?There is a long gap between ancient scientists such as Aristotle, Galen, and Ptolemy and the Scientific Revolution (nearly 2,000 years).

The Catholic Church The Classic View Not the only culprit

The Bible and Science the world also is established, that it cannot be

moved” (Psalms 93:1)

"Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon (Joshua 10:12). If the Sun had already been standing still, Joshua  should have ordered the cessation of the Earth's diurnal motion in order to get more time for slaughtering Amorites

2. Ancient Science was very advanced.3. Printing Press

allowed scientists to communicate4. Limited Mathematics

calculus was invented later5. Limited technology

no telescopes, microscopes6. Natural Science not emphasized in medieval

universities Church Controlled

Other Explanations:

Factors Leading to the Scientific Revolution

Rise of universitiesContact with non-

Western societiesThe RenaissanceThe ReformationExploration

Center of the Universe?Ptolemy(83-161 A.D.)(Roman) Egypt

Geocentric Theory

Copernicus(1473-1543)Poland

Heliocentric Theory

Galileo(1564-1642)Italy

confirmed heliocentric theory

Pre-Scientific Revolution

What was the general world-view before the Scientific Revolution? -God is sovereign-accept the unseen by faith alone- Theology was based on Aristotle and Ptolemy

Copernicus (1473-1543, Poland) Heliocentric Theory: that the

sun is the center of the solar system

Each heavenly body inhabited a sphere encapsulating the sun

Simplified the Ptolemaic theory: epicycles still required, but smaller

Increased mathematical elegance in accounting for observations justified the theory

1543: On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630, Germany) Used Brahe’s

observational data to support heliocentric theory, but with elliptical orbits

1609: The New Astronomy

No answer to problem of why planets orbited elliptically, or why they didn’t hurtle off into space

Galileo (1564-1642, Italy) First use of the telescope to study

astronomy 1613: Starry Messenger argued for

a Copernican interpretation (heliocentric)

Fitted close astronomical observation with mathematics; believed in rational, mathematical explanation of physical universe

Empiricism

Galileo improves telescope, observes Venus

Science vs. the Church? The Church condemned

heliocentric conceptions of the universe

Roman Inquisition Galileo’s Trial Galileo recants, put

under house arrest Tension between the

Church and Science?

Sir Francis Bacon1561-1626England

“A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion."

Science vs. Religion?

1643-1727 1687: published Principia

Mathematica: movement through mutual attraction, or gravity

Universal Gravitation Dependent on heliocentric theory

Laws of Motion Beginnings of Calculus Emphasized the importance of

empirical data and mathematical relationships

Sir Isaac Newton

Rene DescartesFrench Philosopher and

Mathematician Reason, not tradition, is the

source of all knowledgeCartesian PlaneCartesian DualismDeductive reasoning“Cogito ergo sum.”

“I think, therefore I am.”

Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

Aristotle (Ancient Greek Philosopher)

DEDUCTIVE REASONINGStart with a premise

Valid until disproven

Sir Francis BaconINDUCTIVE REASONINGStart with observations

Must be proven in order to be valid

The Scientific MethodDescartes and Bacon

Based on logic and reason rather than faith – conclusions had to be based on observation (empiricism) and experimentation

Ancient Medicine: Galen (131–201 CE)

Greek physician On the Elements According

to Hippocrates “Bodily humours” Two types of blood On the Use of the Parts of

the Body

Medieval Medicine: The Catholic Church

Provided for care of the poor and the sick

Minor clerics took on physician-like roles

Eventually, university-trained physicians displaced clerical physicians

Clerics treat a royal patient with leeches

Andreas VesaliusBelgium (1514-1564)Experiments on

CadaversCorrected many of

Galen’s errors

The Human Body

William Harvey (1578–1657) English physician On the Movement of the

Heart and Blood in Animals

Described the functioning of the heart and circulatory system

Disproved Galen’s theories

The Scientific Revolution was aided by the development of Royal Academies in the seventeenth century.

Established by absolute monarchs forScientific Investigation

Why?

Better Science = Better War-making

Royal Academies

Royal AcademiesRoyal Academies published journals so that

scientists could communicate.

Others could continue their experiments. (e.g., Copernicus Galileo)

Witch Hunts

1400-170070,000 and 100,000 “witches”

burned in EuropeThe Burning of Three Witches

Switzerland, 16th c.

80% Women

The Continuing Influence of Superstition

The Significance of the Scientific Revolution

Abandonment of ancient and medieval systems

Development of the scientific methodThe Enlightenment