Enlightenment Science & Nature - Humboldt

Question 1

What are the key characteristics of the science of nature?

Answer 1

• Complex, historical science
• Founded on empiricism
• Concerned with theory development and improved explanations of events

Question 2

What were the key themes of the enlightenment?

Answer 2

Reason
Science
Humanism 
Progress
(Pinker, 2018)

Nature - Orderly, objective, rational, grand and majestic, Nature enshrined both norms and ideals (Porter, 2000)

Question 3

What influenced the enlightenment?

Answer 3

Christian theology was a constraint (re age of the earth - 4004 BC - and environmental change theories).
Natural disasters occurring.
Technology constraining + developing.
Exploration - local and global, both geographically and temporally new discoveries.

Question 4

What is Hutton’s theory?

Answer 4

James Hutton advocated uniformitarianism - the forces and processes observable at earth’s surface are the same that have shaped earth’s landscape throughout natural history.

Question 5

Describe Humboldt, his theories and his success.

Answer 5

Humboldt was wealthy and of high status. He was a technological enthusiast which helped his expeditions become so successful. Majorly travelled in Latin America.

Discovered decrease of earth’s magnetic field from poles to equator
Examined the distribution of volcanoes
Geography of plants as affected by physical conditions
= motivated a holistic perception of the universe as one interacting entity.