Change in scientific thinking Stuart Period

Question 1

What is mechanical philosophy

Answer 1

The Principle of that the world works like a machine, therefore is not being constantly interfered with

Question 2

What is materialism

Answer 2

Matter is the fundamental substance in nature and all things including mental aspects and consciousness are results of material interactions

Question 3

What is deductive reasoning

Answer 3

Spirits were relegated in thought to the “mental” world

Question 4

Which book was published in 1543

Answer 4

Nicholas Copernicus’s “On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres”

Question 5

What did Copernicus suggest

Answer 5

• Proposed the universe was heliocentric
• Agreed with the classics that celestial bodies orbit in perfect circles
• Argued that the Earth revolves on its own axis

Question 6

What happened in 1597

Answer 6

Gresham College was founded

Question 7

Empiricism

Answer 7

• Experiencing something through senses is the predominant focus of expanding knowledge
• Our knowledge of nature depends upon our observations of natural phenomena

Question 8

Inductive Thought

Answer 8

Observing something and forming a conclusion based on what is observed

Question 9

Impact of Francis Bacon and the Proficience of Learning (1605)

Answer 9

• A noticeable change in acceptance of evidence from shortly before to afterwards
• Lord Chief Justice Sir Edmund Anderson (1602), he was willing to suspend normal ‘proofs’ and convict on ‘presumptions’
• Heneage Finch, a leading legal figure, oversaw a trial in 1620s where the Justice of the Peace, rather than convicting on conscience they convicted on ‘hard’ evidence- the Devil’s Mark
• Suggests there was a slight change in attitudes towards requirements to find a witch guilty across all levels of the judiciary system

Question 10

Materialism

Answer 10

• Everything is created by matter and that all observed events are the result of matter acting on matter.
• Concepts such as the soul and existence of witchcraft could be questioned.

Question 11

Deductive Thought

Answer 11

• Application of existing rules
• Testing of propositions
• Use of preconceived theories with facts collected to prove theory.

Question 12

Impact of Thomas Hobbes, Deductive Reasoning and Materialism (1655-1658)

Answer 12

• An increasing number of judges and jurors aware of the logic and rationality behind ideas from people like Hobbes
• Joan Buts, Surrey 1682 was found innocent as the jury found it difficult to prove. The presiding judge, Matthew Hale, purposefully left out evidence (a significant amount of spectral evidence) so that the jurors would led by their heart
• Indicates that the spread of ideas was increasing and affecting even more levels of the judiciary
• Reveals that public attitudes towards spectral evidence was significant, if Hale was concerned about how it might affect the decision