The Scientific Revolution

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The Scientific Revolution
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The Scientific Revolution

• The Rise of Science (16th 18th cents.)
• The Ancient and Medieval Mindset
• Dependent on Greco-Roman thinkers
• No clear-cut lines between science and
  pseudoscience
• Europe still very religious and superstitious
• Science became more modern (by 17th cent.)

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The Scientific Revolution

• Revolution in Astronomy
• Ptolemaic Theory
• GEOCENTRIC universe
• Group of concentric spheres
• Bible, human observation support this
• Celestial bodies contain ether

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The Scientific Revolution

• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
• Polish cleric
• On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs (1543)
• Proposed HELIOCENTRIC universe
• Remained hypothesis initially
• Many astronomers hesitated to adopt it
• Mathematical concerns

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The Scientific Revolution
The Copernican system
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The Scientific Revolution

• Johann Kepler (1570-1630)
• Provided mathematical confirmation for
  Copernicuss theory
• Laws of Planetary Motion
• Planets follow elliptical orbits, not circular
• Distance and time of revolution in constant ratio

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The Scientific Revolution

• Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
• Professor at U. of Padua
• Discoveries with telescope
• Imperfections on moon
• Sunspots
• Demonstrate uniformity between heavens and Earth

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The Scientific Revolution
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The Scientific Revolution

• Galileo Outspoken Advocate of Copernican Theory
• Asked to treat theory as hypothesis, not fact
• Did not! ? summoned to Rome (1632), house arrest
• Trial before Inquisition (1633)
• Died within Catholic Church (1642)

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The Scientific Revolution
2009
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The Scientific Revolution

• Questions?

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The Scientific Revolution

• Further Advances
• Physics Law of Gravity
• Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
• Gravity same force that holds object on Earth
  holds planets in orbits
• Chemistry use chemicals to treat disease
• Old theory disease the result of imbalance in
  humors ? bloodletting

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The Scientific Revolution

• Discoveries in Biology
• Human anatomy
• Blood circulation
• Bacteria discovered with microscope

Vesalius and students
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The Scientific Revolution

• The Scientific Method
• Empirical observation
• Data
• Experimentation

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The Scientific Revolution

• Scientific Discoveries ? Revolution in Thought
• Old paradigms swept away
• Faith in human reason ? optimism
• Skepticism beginning to brew ? need for evidence

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The Scientific Revolution

• John Locke (1632-1704)
• English writer, political theorist
• People possess natural rights life, liberty,
  property
• Function of government
• Protect everyones rights
• Mutual contract between ruler and ruled
• Break in contract ? ruled have right to
  reconsider ruler, even rebel!

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The Scientific Revolution

• Questions?