Transcript THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

THE
SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION
FOUNDATIONS
natural philosophy of the classical
writers, in particular, Aristotle, Ptolemy,
Euclid. Aristotelian view of the universe
(with medieval adaptations): motionless
earth at the center of the universe
surrounded by ten transparent, crystal
spheres kept moving by angels in
perfect circles. Four elements: air, fire,
earth, water.
FOUNDATIONS
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): anatomy,
circulation of the blood, movement of the
earth around the sun, designs for subs and
airplanes, ideas of parachutes and poison
gas. But, his work was unknown during his
time and not until the discovery of his
private journals, two of the most important of
which were not found until 1965.
FOUNDATIONS
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592): French
essayist who epitomizes the growing
skepticism among educated people. This
attitude included a frame of mind which
doubted that certain knowledge is possible for
human beings and that all beliefs are
essentially customs which vary from civilization
to civilization - an early form of relativism.
Applied to science this tolerance resulted in no
distinctions between alchemy and chemistry,
astrology and astronomy
FOUNDATIONS
Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543): Polish,
presented heliocentric theory in his On the
Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs, published in
1543 after his death. Few knew of his theory until
many years later, but it was destined to set the
accepted beliefs on end.. His theory destroyed
long-held beliefs including
1) THE STARS DIDN'T MOVE – THE EARTH
DID, HENCE, NO NEED FOR CRYSTAL
SPHERES;
2) THE UNIVERSE WAS A LOT BIGGER
THAN ORIGINALLY BELIEVED;
3) THE LOCATION OF HEAVEN WAS NO
LONGER KNOWN.
FOUNDATIONS
Heliocentric Models
FOUNDATIONS
Martin Luther THOUGHT HE WAS A FOOL; CALVIN CONDEMNED HIM; THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL 1616 WHEN IT OFFICIALLY
DECLARED HIS THEORY FALSE
CENTURY OF GENIUS
17th. century birth of modern science Natural Philosophy becomes
Individual Sciences Botany: relied on collection of specimens, which was
broadened with overseas explorations Medicine: new herbs spurred formulation
of new drugs
1. Anatomy: the ideas of Galen (2nd. century) were re-examined and often
contradicted.
2. Physiology: use of laboratory experiments to study the function rather
than the structure of living bodies.
3. Astronomy: Ptolemaic concept of the universe overturned
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
1. Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564): Flemish,
published On the Fabric of the Human Body in
1543. ''Father on Anatomy'' Vesalius was
physician to the Holy Roman emperor Charles V
and to Philip II, king of Spain.
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
2. William Harvey (1578-1657): English doctor who published On the Movement
of the Heart and Blood in 1628 in which he described circulation of the blood.
He was the founder of modern physiology
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
3. Leewenhoek: Dutch, used the microscope and was the first to see blood
corpuscles and bacteria
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
4. Tycho Brahe (1546-1601): his astronomical data obtained at his observatory
was the basis for the work of Kepler. He did not totally accept the work of
Copernicus.
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
5. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630): German,
accepted the Copernican theory and used Brahe's
observations and his own mathematical genius to
prove it. His Laws of Planetary motion include:
1) PLANETARY ORBITS AROUND THE SUN
ARE ELLIPTICAL;
2) PLANETS DO NOT MOVE AT A UNIFORM
SPEED;
3) TIME IT TAKES TO ORBIT DIRECTLY
RELATED TO ITS DISTANCE FROM THE SUN
SCIENTIFIC GIANTS
6. Galileo (1|64-1642): Italian, 1609 built a telescope,
observed phases of the moon and postulated moon's
reflection of light, saw sun spots, moons of Jupiter,
material of each similar to that of the earth. These
findings shook the world and its separation of the
heavens and the earth. Galileo was condemned and
forced to recant. Also did work in dynamics, the study of
the motion of bodies. Developed concept of inertia
MATHEMATICS
use of decimals to express fractions, algebraic symbols improved and
standardized
1. John Napier: Scot, 1614 invented logarithms
2. Rene Descartes; French inventor of coordinate geometry
3. Pascal: French, theory of probabilities
4. Newton (English), Leibniz (German): simultaneously invented calculus
ISAAC NEWTON
ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727): brought together
Kepler and Galileo by showing that Kepler's Laws of
Planetary Motion and Galileo's laws of terrestrial
motion were two aspects of the same laws.
A. Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
(1687)-Principia
Same mathematical formulas could be applied to
all motion. Law of universal gravitation: all matter
moved as if every particle attracted every other
particle with a force proportional to the product of the
two masses, and inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between them.
B. Modern Exceptions: It does not hold true in the
world of subatomic structure or in the macrocosm of
the whole physical universe as now conceived.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
A. Scientific community: The scientific community became organized with the
sharing of ideas and the funding of new research. Gresham College, London
became the center of scientific activity in England. The Royal Society of London
was founded in 1662 and the Royal Academy of Sciences in France was founded
in 1666, both chartered to pursue scientific interests.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
B. POPULARITY: Science becomes ''popularized'' with more people attempting
to apply scientific principles to problems of man and society.
Define the question
Gather information and resources (observe)
Form hypothesis
Perform experiment and collect data
Analyze data
Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypothesis
Publish results
Retest (frequently done by other scientists)
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
C. CHANGE:
Science changed
ideas of religion
and notions of
God and man .
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
D. LITTLE ECONOMIC IMPACT: did not translate into new technology except
in navigation; it was an intellectual revolution. But eventually, science and
invention will come together to become the main force in the advancement of
civilization and the promotion of progress. Science will revolutionize health,
business, war, populations, the use of raw materials, transportation,
communication, etc.
Thought Question
What aspects of the Scientific Revolution can be traced back
to the Renaissance?
to the Reformation?
Renaissance
Reformation