Early Modern Natural Philosophy

Question 1

What was natural philosophers’ main motivation early-on?

Answer 1

To understand the wonder of God’s creation

Question 2

What was the role of the sciences in 14th c. europe?

Answer 2

Preparation for study of the bible

Maths was essential for completely understanding the scriptures

Question 3

Only form of education in 1st century

Answer 3

Monastery/cathedral schools

Question 4

Bacon dates

Answer 4

1561-1626

Question 5

Bacon believed

Answer 5

‘god had revealed the mysteries of nature to the Jews and to Aristotle’
The role of Natural Philosophers to rediscover it/fulfil the biblical prophecy

Question 6

State of science up to 17th c.

Answer 6

a variety of ‘cultural practices’ which used different methods and different aims

Question 7

Basis of natural philosophy early on (incl. 16th c.)

Answer 7

based on views and practices of Aristotle

Question 8

Aristotle’s views on the universe

Answer 8

the heavens (beyond the moon) had no change or imperfections, were different to earth

Question 9

How Galileo challenged aristotelian views

Answer 9

Sun had blemishes so not perfect
Championed observation and mathematical reasoning
Earthly observations can be used to model things in the heavens

Question 10

Galileo dates

Answer 10

1565-1642

Question 11

Who introduced heliocentrism

Answer 11

Copernicus (1473-1543)

Question 12

Issue with heliocentrism

Answer 12

Universe not centred round earth, so humans are not singled out as inferior beings with limited capacity for knowledge

Question 13

Philosophy in 17th century

Answer 13

Basically any kind of knowledge

Question 14

Descartes opinions on humans and nature

Answer 14

Everything that is man-made acts/is the same as what is seen in nature
Eg nature works like a clock, made by a higher being (clockmaker)= mechanical philosophy

Question 15

Issue with descarte’s thinking

Answer 15

Was still just concepts rather than solid explainations

Question 16

Good things about descarte’s ideas

Answer 16

Laid foundations for how to do science- find rules that make nature work
Now possible to find out everything

Question 17

Role of religion in 17th c.

Answer 17

Still very much in control

Making God “less powerful” now encourages magical beliefs and practices= frowned upon

Question 18

Descartes dates

Answer 18

1596-1650

Question 19

Impact of Descartes & Newton

Answer 19

Natural Philosophers stopped worrying about how to do it- mechanical and mathematical philosophy work, so everyone just did that

Question 20

Newton’s motivation

Answer 20

Religious- to solve the ‘cryptogram set by the almighty’

Question 21

Role of increased exploration in 15th & 16th c.s

Answer 21

People realised the world was large and mostly unknown (unrelated to philosophy)
Expanded people’s mental horizons too

Question 22

Newton dates

Answer 22

1643-1727

Question 23

Royal Society founded

Answer 23

1660

Question 24

Aristotelian principles

Answer 24

experience-based knowledge

induction!

Question 25

Method of natural philosophers in 16th c.

Answer 25

observation, contemplation, explaination

Question 26

Averroes

Answer 26

Arab Philosopher, 12th c, looked at aristotle outside religious context People in Paris copied in 13th c., in Padua in 16th c.

Question 27

Thomas Aquinas opinion of natural philosophy

Answer 27

a 'handmaiden' to theology

Question 28

Main subjects studied in universities (middle ages-15/16th c.)

Answer 28

Liberal arts= philosophy (natural philosophy included) | Then specialise in Medicine, law or theology

Question 29

Mathematical subjects in early universities

Answer 29

not called natural philosophy- only described things, NP explains why

Question 30

della Mirandola

Answer 30

late 15th c. wanted to achieve operational control over nature= magic using knowledge for practical purposes

Question 31

Natural philosopher's views on ancient philosphers

Answer 31

Much more advanced, should be modelled | Descartes thought Greeks had used algebra

Question 32

Science vs Natural Philsophy

Answer 32

- Science can be shown to be true (interrogate things further), NP is a suggestion (hypothetical) - science more practical- - increased importance and integration of maths - science is working towards a goal