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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 3

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 3

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS AND SOCIETY

MODULE OVERVIEW

This Module presents the intellectual revolutions which had a significant effect on how people view
the influence of science on society. It includes three of the most significant intellectual revolutions in the past:
the Copernican, Darwinian and the Freudian Revolution. Discussion will focus on the major contribution of
these great thinkers in the context of science, technology and society and the significant contributions in the
development of modern science. This module also encourages students to apply the great works of the
intellectual thinkers in transforming the society to a more conducive place to live.

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. identify the paradigm shifts in history; and
2. articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Diagnostics

Before continuing on this Module, let us find the 15 key terms/words in this module from the word
search puzzle below. Shade or encircle the words. They are placed in the puzzle either vertical, horizontal,
oblique, upward or backwards. Then copy the terms you have found in alphabetical order in a piece of paper.
And after completing this module, write 1 or 2 sentences about each term/word.

a r c e l i g y m e l o t p r
l i v i n g s t o n e k g s s
c o p e r n i c u s l o v y u
h a h a n s d a i l g o h c p
e c c i r t n e c o e g e h e
m f a e r a y l i l s e l o r
y r b v o d d e m i c o i a e
r e v o l u t i o n j j o n g
p u w l c o v i g v n m c a o
s d e u c u t e a m o d e l t
u o t t a z c o r o n a n y s
s u o i c s n o c o a r t s t
c t s o c i e t y a g w r i a
c e t n u d a v i d r i i s t
c i s a a c n e w t o n c u e

WHAT IS AN INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION?

Intellectual revolution refers to series of events that led to the emergence of modern science and
more current scientific thinking across critical periods in history. It reveals how society was transformed by
science and technology for it has a lot of improvements in astronomy, chemistry, mathematics and physics.

It is also the period where paradigm shifts occurred. It is where the scientific beliefs that have been
widely embraced and accepted by the people were challenged and opposed. It is the time period when
advancements of science and technology changed people’s perception and beliefs.

To learn more about the characteristics of paradigm shifts, please read the following article:
Shuttleworth, M. and Wilson, L. (2008, October 24). What Is A Paradigm?. retrieved from

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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 3

https://explorable.com/what-is-a-paradigm

Now that you have an idea the characteristics of paradigm shifts, we will look at three important
intellectual revolutions. When reading about these intellectual revolutions, keep in mind the prevailing
thoughts before these revolutions occurred and how each thinker changed these prevailing thoughts.

COPERNICAN REVOLUTION

In the early times, people were fascinated with the heavenly bodies. They became interested with the
stars, sun, moons and planets. Their curiosity is focused on the components of the universe and wanted to
know the movement of the heavenly bodies and the effects in the world where they live.

In the 6th century, Claudius Ptolemy introduced the geocentric model which described the absolute
perception of the universe with the Earth as its center which was thought to be true by most of the people and
was widely accepted at that time.

Copernican Revolution marks the shift from the belief that the Earth was the center of the universe to
the heliocentric model of the universe where the sun is the center of the solar system, as articulated by the
Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century. In his heliocentric model, Copernicus repositioned
the Earth from the center of the Solar System and introduced the idea that the Earth rotates on its own axis
causing day and night. The Earth along with other heavenly bodies rotates around the sun.

Figure 3.1. Nichoaus Copernicus: Proponent of Heliocentrism. (https://prezi.com/ew7js5aftabe/copernican-

revolution/)

Figure 3.2. Comparison of the Geocentric and Heliocentric Theories

(https://prezi.com/ew7js5aftabe/copernican-revolution/)

The heliocentric model was hardly accepted by the people, primarily by the church accusing Copernicus
of heresy. He even faced persecution because of this. They held their stance on their beliefs and refused to
accept the heliocentric model of the universe as the truth.

The shift from geocentric to heliocentric slowly happened through the contributions of the following
intellectual persons.

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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 3

 Tycho Brahe’s careful observation of the star, Cassiopeia. He developed a compromise between the
heliocentric and geocentric models of the universe.
 Johannes Kepler’s said that all planets move in elliptical orbits and the sun at the center
 Galileo Galilie’s developed his own telescope and observed Venus
 Sir Isaac Newton’s law of gravitation

Heliocentrism was eventually accepted by people and marks the birth of modern astronomy which
resulted in the transformation of society’s thoughts and beliefs. The Copernican Revolution marked a turning
point in the study of cosmology and astronomy making it a truly significant intellectual revolution.

To learn more about the details of this revolution, especially the resistance for the acceptance of
Copernicus’ ideas, please read Chapter 5 of Kuhn’s The Copernican revolution: planetary astronomy in the
development of western thought through this link: https://fpa2014.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/kuhn-thomas-
s-the-copernican-revolution.pdf

DARWINIAN REVOLUTION

This Darwinian Revolution started when Charles Darwin Darwin (1809-1882) (Figure 3.3) published
his book “On the Origin of Species” which emphasizes that organisms are the result of an evolution, a change
in the heritable characteristics of biological population over successive generations. He theorized that species
of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small inherited variations that increase
individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce. Natural selection is often described as survival of the
fittest, where fitness refers to the ability to survive and reproduce. This theory of evolution has two main
points: (1) all life on Earth is connected and related to each other and (2) this diversity of life came about
because of the modifications in populations that were driven by natural selection. An commonly cited
example of the evolutionary process can be seen in the beaks of Galapagos finches. (Figure 3.4)

Figure 3.3. Charles Darwin: the Father of Evolution. (https://prezi.com/p/ped420lwyuyj/darwinian-revolution/)

Figure 3.4. Adaptation of the beak of Darwin’s Finches (https://prezi.com/p/ped420lwyuyj/darwinian-

revolution/)
Just like Copernicus, Darwin’s theory of evolution also met resistance from the society. Critics see the
theory of evolution to be contradictory to the church’s teachings that the source of life is a powerful creator.

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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 3

The theory emerged at a time when most of the population believed and accepted the biblical version of the
Earth’s creation. This caused conflict among people. Some believed that the theory explained the origin of life,
while the religious and faithful contradicts it. This caused a debate between science and religion.

To learn more about Darwinian Revolution and its importance to society, please refer Berra’s Charles
Darwin’s paradigm shift through this link
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f860/c47299fcda9ed474aac197a0c001565975c3.pdf?
_ga=2.249329735.175019503.1598341990-1376162135.1593765976

FREUDIAN REVOLUTION

According to MacNamara, et al. (2018), the field of psychology was considered more of an art rather
than science and was classified under the area of philosophy. However, because of Sigmund Freud (Figure
3.5), the perception of society to psychology changed. In the 19 th century, Freud developed his theory of
psychoanalysis. According to Quinto, et al. (2019), psychoanalysis is “a scientific method of understanding
inner and unconscious conflicts embedded within one’s personality, springing from free associations, dreams
and fantasies of the individual.” Among his ideas include the importance of the unconscious (Figure 3.6.), and
the concept of id, ego, and superego (Figure 3.7). Freud emphasized the understanding of unconscious
because of its importance in human behavior.

Figure 3.5. Sigmund Freud: Father of Psychoanalysis

(https://prezi.com/6lnwzo7tp3dc/the-freudian-revolution/)

Figure 3.6. Freud compared the mind to an iceberg. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html)

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Figure 3.7. The Three Parts Psyche.

(https://prezi.com/6lnwzo7tp3dc/the-freudian-revolution/)

To learn more about the ideas of Freud and his psychoanalytic theory, please read the article What
are the most interesting ideas of Sigmund Freud? by Saul McLeod by visiting the link:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html#:~:text=The%20id%20comprises%20two
%20kinds,instincts%20is%20known%20as%20libido, and Makari’s Revolution in Mind: The Creation of
Psychoanalysis through the link http://wsi.org/publications/images/Revolution-in-Mind-the-Creation-of-
Psychoanalysis.pdf.

These three revolutionizing theories are just some of the many scientific ideas that transformed and
molded societies and beliefs. The changes they brought to the perspectives and perceptions of the scientific
community and the public are evidences of science and technology’s link to humanity. Through scientific
research and experimentations, people will continue to deepen their understanding of the world and the
universe.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Metacognitive reading with group output presentation

Instructions: Aside from the three intellectual revolutions discussed in this section, other intellectual
revolutions also took place across history in many parts of the world, such as in North America, Asia, Middle
East, and Africa. In Pairs, research on a particular intellectual revolution that took place in any of the four
geographical locations mentioned. Prepare a five-slide PowerPoint presentation and report the highlights of
your chosen intellectual revolution. Use the following.

a. What is the intellectual revolution all about?

b. Who are the key figures in the revolution?
c. How did the revolution advance modern science and scientific thinking at the time?
d. What controversies met the revolution?

Your work will be assessed using the following criteria:

4 3 2 1
Depth of Content Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Lacks
comprehensive comprehensive basic understanding of
understanding of understanding of understanding of the subject for
the subject for the subject for the subject for reflection.
reflection and work reflection. reflection.
can be used as an
example for others.
Originality and Work is insightful Work is insightful Work shows some Work is not
Insight and shows a high and shows insight and some original.
degree of imagination. degree of
imagination. imagination.
Style and Clarity Ideas are clearly Ideas are clearly Ideas show some Ideas are not
articulated and well articulated and well degree of clarity communicated

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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 3

developed. developed. but are not well clearly nor are they
developed. well developed.
Organization and Writing is well- Writing is well- Writing has some Writing is
Grammar organized with no organized with few degree of unorganized and
spelling and spelling and organization with contains many
grammatical errors. grammatical errors. some spelling and spelling and
grammatical errors. grammatical errors.
Timeliness Completed work Completed work Completed work Completed work
was passed earlier was passed on the was passed the was passed more
than the deadline deadline given. day after the than a day after the
given. deadline given. deadline given.

SUMMARY

The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:

 The Copernican Revolution refers to the paradigm shift of how the Earth and Sun were placed in the
universe. This idea rejected Ptolemaic Model or geocentric model (earth is the center of the solar
system) proposed by Claudius Ptolemy and proved the heliocentric model (Sun is the center of the
Solar System having the Earth revolving around it) proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus
 The Theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin states that all species of an organism arise and develop
through the natural selection of small inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to
compete, survive and reproduce. His work entitled “On The Origin of Species” changed how people
approach biology forever, and has fundamental impacts on modern science, religion, and other
aspects of the society.
 Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who is perhaps most known as the founder of
psychoanalysis which, defined as a set of psychological theories and therapeutic methods with the
belief that all people possess unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories. According to
his theory, personalities arise because of attempts to resolve conflicts between unconscious sexual
and aggressive impulses and societal demands to restrain these impulses.

REFERENCES

 Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Nieva, Aileen D. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. pp 35-46.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing.
 McNamara, DJ, Valverde VM, Beleno, R., III (2018). Science, Technology and Society., pp. 39-45.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing.
 https://prezi.com/ew7js5aftabe/copernican-revolution/
 https://prezi.com/p/ped420lwyuyj/darwinian-revolution/
 https://prezi.com/6lnwzo7tp3dc/the-freudian-revolution/
 https://www.slideshare.net/GualbertoJrLantaya/intellectual-revolutions
 https://brainly.ph/question/1614895#readmore
 https://www.slideshare.net/rey_john_rey/intellectual-revolutions-that-defined-society
 https://prezi.com/2ak2vqch_apz/intellectual-revolutions/
 http://www.flowofhistory.com.readings
 https://prezi.com/p/auhyhvunipp6/intellectual-revolutions-that-shaped-society/
 https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html

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