Religion, Technology and new approach Flashcards
What is the latin name for and definition of science?
Scientia - knowledge
What was Marcel Duchamp’s view on art?
“I’m the artist, whatever I do, is art”
What are the two major approaches to historiography?
- Internal
- External
Define the internal approach to historiography.
Old approach. Scientists make discoveries without being influenced by social/external factors.
Define the external approach to historiography.
New approach. External social factors shape development of science/technology, no inborn genius or independent idea.
What approach did Thomas Kuhn have towards the origins of modern science/technology? What book did he write?
- Internal approach.
- Argued of no single revolution - small revolutions or “paradigm shifts”
- “The structure of scientific revolutions”
What was Thomas Kuhn’s order of flow of paradigm shifts?
Established science - normal science (puzzle solving process) - novelty/anomaly - crisis in established science - emergence of new paradigm (revolution) - new normal science
What are two issues with Thomas Kuhn’s order of flow of paradigm shifts?
- Works for early part of scientific revolution, but not later
- Two established sciences can coexist even if they contradict one another (newton vs. Einstein)
What approach did Robert Merton have towards the origins of modern science/technology? What work did he write?
- External approach
- Scientific revolution caused by religion
- “Puritanism and the Rise of Modern Science”
What did Robert Merton argue regarding Protestantism and Catholicism and science?
- Protestants used science to make profits, Roman Catholics did NOT
- In Protestantism being wealthy was extremely valued
- In Catholicism, being poor was valued, Jesus was poor
What approach did Edgar Zilsel have towards the origins of modern science/technology? What work did he write?
- External approach
- S.R. started by craftsmen, like John Harrison
- “The Social Origins of Modern Science”
What did Edgar Zilsel argue about craftsmen and the S.R.?
Craftsmen started the scientific revolution:
a. Theory - how machines work
b. Experimentation - trial and error, observation
c. Actual work/interaction with the devices
What approach did Harold A. Innis have towards the origins of modern science/technology? What work did he write?
- External approach
- S.R. free access to knowledge/communication
- “Empire and Communications”
What did Harold A. Innis argue was the catalyst for access to knowledge and communication?
Gutenberg’s printing press.
Who were the “Gate keepers”, according to Harold A. Innis? Why?
The catholic church, they would allow or disallow publications of texts.
What approach did Herbert Butterfield have towards the origins of modern science/technology? What work did he write?
- Internal approach
- Said that medieval ages were falsely labeled as period of decline
- “The Origins of Modern Science”
What was Herbert Butterfield’s primary interest?
Physics, how theory of motion evolved.
What was Herbert Butterfield’s opinion on Nazi Germany? What repercussions did this have?
Believed for Germany to come into power with Hitler was a good thing (said before WWII), career has declined ever since, labeled as a Nazi.
What was the theory of impetus? What theory did this contrast? What happened to the theory of impetus?
Moving force imbedded in the object, contrasted Aristotle’s prime mover theory. Roman Catholic church blocked theory of impetus.
What and when was the scientific revolution?
A period when natural philosophy evolved into modern science. From 1543-1700.
What marked the start of the S.R?
Death of Copernicus, in 1543.
What marked the end of the S.R?
“Start of the industrial revolution”, made up date by historians ~1700
What is Lech’s definition of the S.R.?
A shift from the question of WHY the universe works (philosophy) to HOW it works.
What did Claudius Ptolemy create?
Almagest, first mathematical model of the cosmos.
Who was Nicolaus Copernicus and why was he important?
- Polish/German doctor
- Bad mathematician, good observer
- Arguer of heliocentrism
What was the myth of Copernicus and the church? What is the true nature of his work?
- Myth: worked on top of a tower was doing it to undermine the R. Catholic church
- Fact: Was part of the scholastic order, trying to go back to the texts of the Greeks. Improved Ptolemy’s system to make it work with Platonic.
What would happen in Poland if you argued heliocentrism?
Burnt at the stake.
Whose model of heliocentrism was the same as Copernicus’?
Aristarchus, an ancient Greek.
What was Copernicus’s book? When did he publish it?
De Revolutonibus Orbium Coelestium. Published on his deathbed in 1543.
Why did Copernicus publish his book when he did?
He waited until his deathbed because he knew there would be problems with publication regarding the church.
What was significant about Richard of Wallingford’s clock?
Control of time was in the hands of a machine, machine replaced god for the first time.
What was Nicholas Oresme’s view on clocks?
Universe - machine (clock) and God - supreme watchmaker. World/universe perfect machines.
What did Galileo oppose and promote so openly?
- Opposed Aristotelian logic
- Promoted repeatable experimentation
What did Galileo disprove about ancient science’s view of planets?
That they were perfect spheres. Saw using telescope.
What did Galileo publish in 1610? What systems did this book go against? What did it support and how?
- Starry Messenger
- Went against Aristotelian and Ptolomeic systems
- Supported Copernicus with math
What was the missing component recognizable by medieval people in a mechanical clock?
God!
How was the cosmos of Galileo received?
As Heresy, there was no god.
Why was Galileo never killed because of his heresy?
He had good social connections, was well acquainted with everyone in higher classes. The pope was his childhood friend.
What did Galileo publish in 1632? What kind of publication was this?
Dialogue 1632, in the form of a play/dialogue including Ptolemeic and Copernican astronomer and the Pope.
What eventually happened to Galileo for his heresy? What should have happened if he did not have such good connections?
He was arrested and put on trial, went before the Holy Inquisition. He should’ve been tortured horribly to the point where you ask for death. Galileo was unharmed. Galileo was sentenced to life house imprisonment.
What was Galileo’s proof that earth is moving around the sun? Who could you also attribute this theory to?
Looked at the ocean tides, goes back to Posidonius.
What was the significance of Galileo within the S.R?
He was the first to shift the question from why the nature/universe works to HOW it works. This led to the beginning of modern science in Britain.
