The Scientific Revolution mid 1500 s-mid 1700 s. A new way of looking at the world.

Transcription

1 The Scientific Revolution mid 1500 s-mid 1700 s A new way of looking at the world.

2 1. Definition Scientific Revolution : a period during which there was a radical change in how people looked at the natural world, based on critical observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs

3 2. Pre-modern Ways of Thinking Scientific Magical Philosophic Religious

4 Scientific Thinking Aristotelian Motion: rest is natural; motion requires a mover heaven and earth: the heavens are light, airy, and perfect perfect spheres in perfectly round orbits Matter: Earth, Air, Fire, Water Cosmology: a motionless earth at the fixed center of the universe Aristotle and the Church: his ideas fit well with Scripture and doctrine.

5 Scientific Thinking Ptolemaic System Earth at center of the universe All other objects on Heavenly Spheres Motion of heavenly objects explained by cycles and epicycles perfect spheres and perfect circles

6 Magical Thinking Alchemy contribution: mutability of matter Astrology Witchcraft *** many of these ideas would continue long after the Scientific Revolution

7 Philosophy Logic and Epistemology how we know and what we know Metaphysics what exists, why it exists, whether there is God, and what is the nature of God Ethics and Politics morality; what is right and wrong for individuals and society *** Science as a separate field of study arises from Philosophy

8 Religious Thought Reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc) emphasis on salvation, and living in a manner that glorifies God Catholic/Counter Reformation made harder to express new opinions Most new ideas arose in Protestant countries or France

9 Causes of the Scientific Revolution Medieval Universities the Renaissance Overseas Trade Improved methods The Reformation

10 Medieval Universities Preservation of ancient texts Emphasis on finding the simplest explanation ( Ockham s Razor ) The Rise of philosophy as a field independent of theology.

11 The Renaissance Rediscovery of advanced mathematics The tradition of patronage Classical values of order and simplicity Humanism emphasis on the limitlessness of human accomplishment

12 Overseas Trade Need for better navigational tools Gresham College Courses on navigation Created a tie between practical concerns and scientists New navigational tools led to new and more accurate knowledge

13 Improved Methods Improved instruments Francis Bacon ( ) Novum Organium Empiricism (inductive experimentalism) form hypothesis (model) and see if it fits the evidence Rene Descartes ( ) linked algebra and geometry Discourse on Method (1637) Deductive mathematical rationalism

14 The Reformation In most Protestant nations an openness to new ideas developed Because of the absence of a central religious authority In Catholic nations (except France) the counter Reformation limited new ideas.

15 3. Development of the Scientific Revolution Nicolaus Copernicus ( ) A clergyman and astronomer On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs (1543) A mental breakthrough based on simple math A heliocentric universe was simpler Still committed to a series of crystal spheres and the perfection of circular motion

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17 Tycho Brahe ( ) Contributed a mass of data from 20 years of observation His perception of the universe: Planets revolved around the sun Planets and sun revolved around the earth-moon system

18 Johannes Kepler ( ) An assistant to Brahe Tried multiple hypotheses using Brahe s data. Developed 3 Laws of Planetary Motion

19 The First Law of Planetary Motion The orbits of the planets are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse.

20 The Second Law of Planetary Motion The line joining the planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times as the planet travels around the ellipse

21 The Third Law of Planetary Motion The ratio of the squares of the revolutionary periods for two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their semimajor axes.

22 The Significance of Kepler Destroyed the Aristotelian/Ptolemaic system Established a precise mathematical relationship between all the elements of the solar system.

23 Galileo Galilei ( ) Two New Sciences utilized controlled experiments showed uniform acceleration of falling objects formulated the law of inertia Starry Messenger observed the four moons of Jupiter observed the imperfect surface of the moon

24 The Newtonian Synthesis Isaac Newton ( ) united the experimental and mathematical sides of modern science Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) provided an explanation for heavenly motion based on the observed properties of motion on earth. Three laws of motion

25 Consequences of the Scientific Revolution A new attitude skepticism; willingness to question old beliefs confidence in the power of reason emphasis on natural law at work in the universe New methods of obtaining knowledge A competitive scientific community Some practical effects navigation; weaponry

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27 The long axis of the ellipse is called the major axis, while the short axis is called the minor axis. Half of the major axis is termed a semimajor axis. It can be shown that the average separation of a planet from the Sun as it goes around its elliptical orbit is equal to the length of the semimajor axis. Thus, by the "radius" of a planet's orbit, one usually means the length of the semimajor axis.