The Scientific Revolution

INTRODUCTION: ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Based on what you know about how science challenged previous ideas about the world
and the universe, what do you imagine these two men might be saying in this image?

What do you know about Galileo’s Think Why would the church
discoveries? Why would he be so about... oppose the new ideas? What
adamant that the new ideas be may happen if people see
spread? that part of the Bible was
not fully accurate?

Scientist Galileo Catholic Monk

THE OLD WAY OF THINKING

● All motion in the heavens is

uniform circular motion.
○ Ptolemaic model & epicycles
● The objects in the heavens are
made from perfect, unchanging
material
● The Earth is at the center of the
Universe
 OVERVIEW
Use the video linked here to learn about the Scientific Revolution
1. Describe the sources of knowledge prior to the Scientific Revolution.
Include Ptolemy’s model.
Old greek philosophers who came up with stuff because it made
sense (No method of proving right or wrong)

2. How did the Catholic Church respond to some of the new

discoveries? (include specific discoveries)

4. What was the significance of the

Scientific Revolution?

3. How is the Scientific Revolution different from the Enlightenment?

What is a “revolution?” To what
extent does that seem accurate in
describing the scientific discoveries
of the 16th & 17th centuries?
IMPORTANT THINKERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Use the links in the arrows to learn about each of
the important figures. You will have to use your own
critical thinking to infer how each impacted society
& to make connections between scientists.

COPERNICUS KEPLER

MAIN DISCOVERIES MAIN DISCOVERIES

HOW DID KEPLER BUILD ON THE IDEAS & DISCOVERIES OF COPERNICUS?

 IMPORTANT THINKERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
COPERNICUS
● Wanted to glorify God by
creating a more perfect model
● Challenged Ptolemaic model in
use since antiquity
○ Not much more accurate
(maintained circular orbits)
○ Set the stage for others to do the
same
● Published On the Revolutions of
the Heavenly Spheres in 1543
○
KEPLER
● Student of Brahe whose
observatory was sponsored by
the Holy Roman Emperor
● 3 laws of motion:
○ Elliptical orbits
○ Planets do not move at uniform
speeds in their orbit
○ Time it takes to orbit is related
to distance from sun
 Watch the videos linked for
each scientist

NEWTON GALILEO

MAIN DISCOVERIES MAIN DISCOVERIES

IMPACT ON SOCIETY IMPACT ON SOCIETY

 “If I have seen further,” Isaac Newton
wrote in a 1675 letter to fellow
scientist Robert Hooke, “it is by
standing on the shoulders of giants.”

NEWTON GALILEO

● LAW OF UNIVERSAL ● Discoveries using the telescope

GRAVITATION—mutual attraction
proportional to mass
● 3 laws of motion
● Blends inductive and deductive
methods
○ opposed pure rationalism of
Descartes
● Argues for a universe governed by
natural laws
● Wrote Principia Naturalis (1687)
○ moons of Jupiter, sunspots,
phases of Venus
● Tried for heresy by papal
Inquisition for defending
Copernicus
○ On Heavenly Spheres on Index of
Forbidden Books
 Use the information on
page 626 to compare the
two thinkers.

DESCARTES BACON

MAIN DISCOVERIES MAIN DISCOVERIES

● DEDUCTION: doubt everything & then use
deductive reasoning to figure out the truth
● Cartesian Dualism—the world is made of 2 types
of substances:
● Matter (physical—ex. body)
● Mind (spiritual—mind)
● EMPIRICISM: inductive; Observation-based
● Experience (the senses) is the best source of
knowledge
● Set intellectual tone of era: break free from
tradition & find new understandings
● Opposed Scholasticism
● Goal: human improvement

EXPLAIN HOW DEDUCTIVE & INDUCTIVE REASONING ARE DIFFERENT & BOTH ARE PART
OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
● Inductive: making generalized conclusions based off of specific scenarios (When you should leave based off of
traffic patterns)
○ Bottoms up approach: Observation -> Generalization -> Theory
● Deductive: backing up generalized statements with specific scenarios (Monkeys like bananas, Lucy is a
monkey, so Lucy likes Bananas)
○ Top Down approach: Theory -> Productions -> Experiment
● Both methods use the scientific method.
 DESCARTES
● DEDUCTION: doubt everything
& then use deductive reasoning
to figure out the truth
○ “I think therefore I am”
● Cartesian Dualism—the world is
made of 2 types of substances:
○ Matter (physical—ex. body)
○ Mind (spiritual—mind)
BACON
● EMPIRICISM: inductive;
Observation-based
○ Experience (the senses) is
the best source of
knowledge
● Set intellectual tone of era:
break free from tradition &
find new understandings
○ Opposed Scholasticism
● Goal: human improvement
 DRAG & DROP TO CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
INSTRUCTIONS: Match the description with the thinker by dragging the boxes to the
side of the slide.

COPERNICUS GALILEO

KEPLER DESCARTES

NEWTON BACON
 DRAG & DROP TO CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
INSTRUCTIONS: Match the description with the thinker by dragging the boxes to the
side of the slide.
COPERNICUS
First to pioneer the idea of the heliocentric
(sun-centered) system but maintained
circular orbits
KEPLER
Took data collected with his mentor Tycho
Brahe and developed 3 laws of planetary
motion and elliptical orbits.
NEWTON
Explained the laws of gravity and believed that
everything could be described through
mathematical equations. Developed calculus.
GALILEO
Observed the moons of Jupiter with his
telescope. Outspoken supporter of the
heliocentric system who was called a “heretic” by
the Catholic Church and the papal inquisition.
DESCARTES
He was known for his philosophy of doubting
his senses. He proved his own existence
through deductive reasoning: “I think
therefore I am”
BACON
Considered a father of the scientific
method. Focused on inductive reasoning,
experimentation and observation.