The Scientific Revolution

Discoveries & Achievements

▪ The Scientific
Revolution began in
the middle decades of
the 16th century and
continued through the
early part of the 18th
century. It involved
gradual developments
in astronomy, physics,
chemistry, and biology.
2
Roger Bacon

▪ Monk
▪ English
philosopher
▪ Rise of
Scientific
method
 Astronomy: A New
Model of the Universe
▪ The major change in
astronomy was that
people accepted the
theory proposed by
Nicolaus Copernicus’
(1473-1543) that the
sun rather than the
earth was the center of
the universe.
4
Ptolemy
▪ Greek
Astronomer
▪ Geocentricism/
Geocentric
theory

5
Geocentric Theory

6
View of the Universe 500 Years Ago
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
▪ Polish astronomer
▪ Physician and
Church servant
▪ Heliocentrism/
Heliocentric
Theory.
▪ On the Revolution
of the Heavenly
Spheres
Heliocentric Model

9
Aristotle

▪ Greek
Philosopher
▪ Proponent of
Geocentric
Theory
11
 Physics: Laws of Motion
and Gravitation
▪ The most important
contributions in physics
were the theory of
inertia, proposed by
Galileo (1564-1642),
and the force of gravity,
discovered by Sir Isaac
Newton (1642-1727).

12
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
▪ Italian Scientist and
Mathematician.
▪ Early practitioner of the
experimental method
▪ Mathematical formula for
acceleration of falling
objects
▪ Law of inertia
▪ His discoveries using the
telescope
▪ Challenges categories of
“form” and “matter”
13
Leaning Tower of Pisa 14
Galileo’s Telescope
15
Galileo's challenge of the Church's authority got him into deep trouble with1t6he
Inquisition. Late in his life, he was forced to recant his Copernican views publicly.
Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
▪ English Mathematician
and Scientist
▪ Newton far from the
perfect rationalist
▪ A great synthesizer
▪ Blends inductive and
deductive methods
▪ Argues for a universe
governed by natural laws
▪ Principia; Mathematical
Principles of Natural
Philosophy (1687) 17
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) Newton demonstrated that the motion of
objects on the Earth could be described by three new Laws of Motion 18
and the Universal Law of Gravitation.
Andreas Vesalius

▪ Father of
modern
anatomy.
▪ Physician.

19
20
Galen
▪ He studied
anatomy by
using animals.

21
22
 Biology: The
Circulation of Blood
▪ In biology, William
Harvey (1578-
1657) accurately
demonstrated how
blood circulates
through the
human body.

23
Wiiliam Harvey
▪ English Physician.

24
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
▪ Inventor of
microscope
▪ Studied the different
parts of the body

25
Microscope

26
Carolus Linnaeus
▪ Swedish
Biologist
▪ Classification of
Plants
▪ Classification of
Animals

27
28
29
30
31
Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
▪ Politician, English
Writer
▪ Father of the
Scientific Revolution
▪ The Inductive Method
▪ Emphasis on
practical, useful
knowledge
▪ New attitude toward
nature
32
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
▪ Significance of Doubt
▪ The Deductive
Method
▪ Spatial relationships
can be expressed in
mathematical
formulas
▪ Father of “analytical
geometry”

33
 Effects of the Scientific Revolution
▪ Skepticism and Independent Reasoning: For example, Descartes reached the
extreme of skepticism by doubting his own existence. Then, he realized that his own
act of thinking proved his own existence (I think, therefore, I am.)
▪ Challenges to Religion: The idea that the universe worked like a machine according
to natural laws and without the intervention of God challenged established religious
ideas. This position was adopted by the Deists in the 18th century.
▪ Decline in Belief in Magic, Demons, and Witchcraft: By the 18th century, the
educated classes denied the existence of demons and the power of witchcraft. The
skeptical views of the educated classes were not shared by the common people for
whom religion remained important. The result was a divide between learned and
popular culture.
▪ Questions about Humanity's Role in the Universe: By making humans the inhabitants
of a tiny planet circling the sun, the Copernican Universe reduced the importance of
humanity. It led people to begin to question the place of humanity in creation.
▪ Gave Humanity Control of Nature: Some philosophers argued that by gaining
knowledge of the laws of nature, people could control nature. Through science and
technology, they could improve human life. This belief in progress became an integral
part of Western culture.
▪ Challenges to Established Views of Women: The new scientific ideas challenged the
ancient and medieval beliefs about the physical and mental inferiority of women by
concluding that both men and women made equal contribution to reproduction. 34
Nevertheless, traditional notions about women continued to dominate
 Discourse on Method
“But I immediately became aware that while
I was thus disposed to think that all was
false, it was absolutely necessary that I who
thus thought should be something; and
nothing that this truth I think, therefore I am,
was so steadfast and so assured… I
concluded that I might without scruple
accept it as being the first principle of the
philosophy I was seeking”
– Rene Descartes, from Discourse on Method- 35