New Directions in Thought & Culture Flashcards
What part of the population did the Scientific Revolution involve?
small population of highly elite individuals, women generally excluded
What did the Scientific Revolution accomplish?
reappropriated old knowledge and the support of new discoveries and establishes new institutions to support the scientific enterprise
When did the Scientific Revolution originate?
the Renaissance in Europe
What was Copernicus’ main contribution to the Scientific Revolution?
he challenged the Ptolemaic system and advocated for the heliocentric view of the universe
What was the name of Copernicus’ treatise?
On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres
Copernican theory was in opposition to what view of the universe?
geocentric view
What is an epicycle?
an orbit within an orbit; a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger circle
What was an advantage of the Copernican System?
there was more mathematical consistency, the epicycles became smaller, and it was easier to determine the order of the planets
What parts of Copernicus’ new system accepted Ptolemaic theory?
he kept concepts of epicycles and deferents and accepted most parts of the Ptolemaic system
What were Tycho Brahe’s beliefs?
He attempted to combine the geocentric and heliocentric models which argued that the earth was the center of the universe, the sun revolved around the earth, and other planets revolved around the sun
What were Johannes Kepler’s beliefs?
He drew pro-Copernican conclusions from Brahe and was a convinced believer of a heliocentric universe. He was influenced by Renaissance Neoplatonism and suggested that orbits were elliptical
Galileo’s beliefs?
He used his physical evidence from the telescope to argue that the universe required a Copernican view
Galileo’s relationship with Church?
He was a high-profile advocate and had many problems with the Church and was ultimately condemned
Galileo’s famous works?
Starry Messenger, Letters on Sunspots
Factors involved in the development of the new science?
institutions of learning & humanist learning, idea of mechanism & mathematics, search for utility instead of symbolism, natural knowledge
Descartes’ process of reasoning?
deductive reasoning, advocated thought founded on mathematical models, rejected all forms of intellectual authority except the conviction of his own reason
Descartes’ basic beliefs regarding human reasoning?
human reason could fully comprehend the world
Descartes belief in God?
existence of God was important to him because God always gave clear and distinct answers so God could not be a deceiver
Bacon’s belief in inductive reasoning?
drawing conclusions from observations, deeds rather than words, abandonment of scholastic way of thinking
Bacon’s overall beliefs?
he wanted to achieve new knowledge and capabilities for the world and insisted on appealing to experience, father of empiricism
What did Bacon believe was the goal of science?
he believed science had a practical purpose and its goal was human improvement, linked science to material progress
Locke’s beliefs and influence?
most influential thinker of 17th century, believed humans were creatures of goodwill in their natural state, believed in defending the rights of people under a power hungry ruler
Hobbe’s beliefs?
he supported the new scientific movement, believed humans to be selfish and lacking a master, and rulers should be absolute and unlimited in power
Newton’s major scientific contribution?
formulated laws of motion and gravitation
