December 13, 2010

Toward a New Heaven and a New Earth: The Scientific Revolution and Emergence
of Modern Science
Toward a New Heaven: A Revolution in Astronomy
Precursor to Copernicus

Cosmological views of Later Middle Ages built on a synthesis of ideas of Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Christian
theology
o Ptolemaic (geocentric) conception: the universe is a series of concentric spheres with a fixed or
motionless earth at its center
Earth was composed of earth, air, fire, and water that was imperfect and constantly changing
Circular movement was the most perfect kind of motion (Aristotle)
10 heavenly spheres; beyond the 10th was Empyrean Heaven (the location of God and saved
souls)
Real purpose was to achieve salvation

Copernicus

Completed On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres in 1530; dedicated to Pope Paul III
Introduced a new conception of the universe
o Heliocentric (sun-centered) conception: universe consisted of eight spheres that revolved around
the sun
o Did not reject Aristotles principle of existence of heavenly spheres moving in circular orbits

Brahe

@ Uraniborg Castle, he gathered information and data for 20 years

o Led him to reject the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic system
o Unable to reject Copernicus theory that the earth was actually in motion

Kepler

Used Brahes astronomical data to arrive at three planetary laws of motion; confirmed Copernicus theory while
modifying it
o 1st: stated that the orbit of the spheres was elliptical, not circular and fixed
o 2nd: demonstrated that the speed of a planet is greater when it is closer to the sun and decreases as its
distance from the sun increases
o 3rd: confirmed the second law with mathematics
All three laws worked together to destroy the ideas of uniform motions and the idea of crystalline
spheres

Galileo

Constructed his own telescope after hearing of a Flemish lens crafter

o Used it to demolish another past assumption that the universe was ethereal and perfect (planets made
of similar substances to Earth)
These ideas published in The Starry Messenger in 1610
Revealed Galileo as a major proponent of the heliocentric system (had previously been
condemned by the Church)
o Church ordered Galileo to reject this thesis
o Was told that he could continue discussing Copernicanism as long as it was
maintained as a supposition
Copernicanism threatened the Scripture and the basis of Church teachings
Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican: Galileos most famous work
Placed under house arrest where he discovered 2 theories of motion

Newton

Wrote his famous work, Principia (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)

o Defined his three laws of basic physics motion
o Introduced the world-machine: one huge, regulated, and uniform machine that operated according to
natural laws in absolute time, space, and motion