Ch. 16 - The Scientific Revolution - 1550s - 1700 Flashcards
Scientific Revolution
DEF: transition from medieval worldview to largely secular, rational & materialistic perspective that began in 1600s & popularized in 1700s
SIG: dissolution of medieval views-> emergence of secularism, new knowledge systems, social hierarchies, & networks of thinkers -> sciences becomes autonomous discipline & distinct from philosophy & tech + utilitarian goals
Geocentric v Heliocentric Conception
DEF: -Geo= belief earth was @ center of universe, sun/celestial objects revolve around it
-Helio: belief that sun, not earth @ center of universe
SIG: clashing ideas = controversy (opposed Catholic Church teachings); dramatically alters scientific perspective of how we view our world
Querelles de femmes
DEF: “arguments about women” centuries old debate abt nature of women that continued during SR as those who argued 4 the inferiority of women found additional support in new anatomy & medicine
SIG: -bc of women’s nature men need to control them –> women argued against this
-SR reaffirmed traditional ideas of women; male scientists used new science to spread that women were inferior by nature & lesser than men –> ideas spread thru widespread distribution of books
Scientific Method
DEF: method of seeking knowledge used experiments & observations 2 develop generalizations
SIG: -standardized approach so scientists could conduct experiments in standardized manner –> experiments more wide spread
-organized way 4 scientists to prove hypothesis right/wrong –> scientific theories
-proper means to understand/examine physical real materials, crucial to evolution of modern day science
Background to Scientific Revolution: Medieval Knowledge
-Medieval thinkers could observe & take note of the natural world as “God’s handiwork”
-Not without science or thought
-Relied heavily on works of Aristotle & Galen–limited knowledge
Background to Scientific Revolution: Renaissance
-Access to Greek works–challenged traditional ideas & PRINTING PRESS spread ideas
-Needed to figure out which explanations were correct
-Art–imitate nature, accurate renderings of nature, humans
-Perspective & anatomy= new insights
-Math super important-base for several sciences (& in art!); rediscovery of ancient works: math=key to understanding
-Magic: Hermetics & alchemy
World living embodiment of divinity & humans could use magic (esp math magic) to understand & dominate the world of nature
Hermetism–experimented w/natural objects, might have led to “experimental philosophy”
Background to Scientific Revolution: Exploration
-New technology needed to travel & explore
-Math & technology needed to travel
-Inventors didn’t always believe in science, often kept things secret
-Discovery of New World & increased trade= need 4 improved navigational & mathematical knowledge
Copernicus (Polish, 1473-1543)
-Was trying to simplify Ptolemy’s geocentric system (math)
-Book = On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres –> determined universe was helio-centric ( sun @ center w/8 planets w/circular motion, moon round Earth)
-Protestant church attacked first, then Catholic
-Brahe (1546-1601, Danish): supported Copernicus’s ideas
Kelper
-interest in mathematical magic; succeded Brahe
-3 Laws of Planetary motion –> confirmed Copernicus’s theory but modified it
-1st = elliptical, not circular; 2nd=speed greater or less w/distance from sun; 3rd=planets w’larger orbits revolve w/slower velocity than those w/smaller orbits
Galileo (1564-1642, Italian)
-Invented early thermometer & telescope that showed Sun’s irregular spots = heavenly imperfect, against Church + first to observe Jupiter’s moons & understand Milky-way = collection of stars
-Coperanicanism condemned by Church –> Galileo told to reject it BUT –> in 1632 published Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic & Copernican –> in Italian rather than Latin –> widely available 2 public –> forced to recent in 1633
-Motion: more force = more speed & inertia = natural state of rest
Newton (1642-1726/27)
-work = culmination of theories of Copernicus, Kepler, & Galileo
-Principia Mathematica (Book) = 3 Laws od Motion: object @ inertia in straight line until deflected by force, rate if change = amount of force, & to every action there is equal opposite reaction
-Universal Law of Gravitation
-WORLD MACHINE = Universe operates according to natural laws in absolute time, space & motion; explanation of how the world & universe worked→ there were basic laws that could explain the movement of everything
Greek Physician Galen
-used animals to describe human body
-4 humors : blood, yellow bile, phlegm, black bile; needed to be in balance to be healthy
Paracelsus
-Challenged ideas of Galen & others
-Chemical composition=disease caused by chemical imbalance in a specific organ
-Macrocosmic-Microcosmic & “like cures like” –> forerunner of homeopathy & holistic medicine
-“Father of modern Medicine”
Vesalius
-Emphasis of practical research–used human bodies for anatomy (sometimes alive!)
-illustrations accurate b/c of Ren. artistic advancements & printing press
-still clung to some of Galen’s ideas: believed in 2 types of bloods in veins & arteries
William Harvey
-demonstrated heart (not liver) was what circulated blood & all blood flowing is the same & complete circuit
-laid foundation 4 modern physiology
