Unit 4: The Scientific Revolution and the Birth of Modern Thought

Scientific Revolution

A period of major change in scientific thought that took place from roughly 1543 to 1687, shifting from reliance on ancient authorities to observation and experimentation.

Natural Philosophy

The study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the Scientific Revolution, heavily influenced by Aristotle and Ptolemy.

Geocentric Theory

The theory that Earth is at the center of the universe, supported by Ptolemy and the Church.

Aristotle

An ancient Greek philosopher who believed in a stationary Earth and a geocentric universe composed of crystal spheres.

Ptolemy

An ancient Greek astronomer who developed the Geocentric Theory and invented complex mathematical models called 'epicycles' to explain planetary movement.

Heliocentric Theory

The astronomical model proposed by Copernicus which states that the sun is at the center of the universe.

Copernican Hypothesis

The theory proposed by Copernicus that places the sun at the center of the universe, challenging the geocentric view.

Tycho Brahe

A Danish astronomer known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical observations, which provided the data for Kepler's laws.

Three Laws of Planetary Motion

Laws formulated by Johannes Kepler that describe the elliptical orbits of planets and their varying speeds.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian astronomer who improved the telescope and made significant discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter and the law of inertia.

Law of Inertia

Galileo's principle that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

The Trial of Galileo

A 1633 trial where Galileo was condemned by the Inquisition for heresy after publishing works supporting heliocentrism.

Isaac Newton

An English mathematician and physicist who formulated the Law of Universal Gravitation and the laws of motion.

Law of Universal Gravitation

Newton's law stating that every body attracts every other body in the universe with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance.

Clockwork Universe

Newton's view of the universe as a mechanical system governed by natural laws, likening God to a 'clockmaker'.

Francis Bacon

An English philosopher who developed the empirical method and criticized traditional scholastic methods.

Empiricism

The philosophical approach that emphasizes knowledge coming from sensory experience and experimentation, associated with Bacon.

Rationalism

The philosophical approach that emphasizes reason and logic as the sources of knowledge, associated with Descartes.

Cogito, ergo sum

The philosophical proposition by René Descartes meaning 'I think, therefore I am,' reflecting his foundational argument for self-evident truth.

Cartesian Dualism

Descartes's concept that separates the mind (spiritual) from the body (physical) as distinct entities.

Andreas Vesalius

A physician known for his work in anatomy, who published 'On the Structure of the Human Body' and corrected errors from Galen.

William Harvey

An English physician who discovered the circulation of blood, proving that the heart functions as a pump.

Misconception: The Scientific Revolution was anti-religious

Reality: Many scientists were religious and sought to understand God’s creation through science.

Misconception: It happened quickly

Reality: The revolution was gradual, taking over 150 years, affecting literacy and belief systems among the population.

Misconception: Galileo proved heliocentrism entirely

Reality: Galileo provided evidence, but Newton provided the proof explaining gravitational forces.

Misconception: Deductive and Inductive reasoning are the same

Reality: Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to general theories, while deductive reasoning works from general theories to specific conclusions.