Scientists from the Scientific Revolution

Question 1

Medieval understandings

Answer 1

Earth at the center of the universe, “heavens” are ethereal and move in unchanging circular spheres

Question 2

Nicolaus Copernicus

Answer 2

1. Wrote “On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres”
2. Used math and observational data to make the case that the earth orbits the sun
3. Was afraid of consequences, so published his findings shortly before his death

Question 3

Galileo Galilei

Answer 3

1. First to use telescope to observe planetary movement
2. He observed that planets are not “ethereal” and are made of the same materials as Earth
3. He found data that confirms Copernicus’ theories, publishes his findings in 1610
4. The Catholic Church puts him on trial and orders him to recant
5. Galileo publicly rejects Copernican model but continues to publish

Question 4

Isaac Newton

Answer 4

1. Math professor who invented calculus
2. He describes universal laws of gravitation and three laws of motion in his Principa; Newtonian physics standard until Einstein
3. Consequence of his actions: world is seen as orderly “machine” that behaves according to predictable, observable, measurable laws

Question 5

Paracelus

Answer 5

1. Rejected medical theories of Aristotle and Galen, specifically the idea that an imbalance of humors causes illness
2. He believed in the “macrocosmic-microcosmic principle” (the same substances and reactions occur inside and outside of humans)
3. Followed some mystical ideas: “like cures like” and homeopathy

Question 6

Andreas Vesalius

Answer 6

1. He used dissection (observation) to improve study of anatomy (physical structure)

Question 7

William Harvey

Answer 7

1. He rejected Galen’s theories of blood flow, improves study of physiology (how body works)

Question 8

Margaret Cavendish

Answer 8

1. She wrote scientific texts, but was excluded from broader scientific community

Question 9

Maria Merian

Answer 9

1. She advanced entomology through her illustrations

2. Used her skills of observation and illustration to contribute to science

Question 10

Descartes (philosophy)

Answer 10

1. “How do I know that what I see is real? Are my powers of observation tricking me? If I can doubt, I can think. If I think, I must be real. I think, therefore I am”
2. Believed in mind-body separation: Cartesian dualism, “my identity rests in my mind”
3. He founds rationalism, which suggests that we can understand the world through reason, since observation can sometimes lie (contradicts empiricism)

Question 11

Francis Bacon

Answer 11

1. Believed that people should develop general principles from experimentation and observation of multiple examples (deductive reasoning)
2. This is known as SPECIFIC to GENERAL

Question 12

Descartes (scientific practice)

Answer 12

1. Believed that people should start with general principles to discern truth about specific examples (inductive reasoning)
2. This is known as GENERAL to SPECIFIC