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The Witch Craze > The Enlightenment 1550-1750 > Flashcards

The Enlightenment 1550-1750 Flashcards

1
Q

Empirical thought

A
  • Observing, collecting data

- Allowed for Inductive Reasoning- conclusion based on evidence

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2
Q

Francis Bacon, ‘Proficience and Advancement of Learning’

A

1605:
- Empirical knowledge, learnt from experience and observation, is the most superior form of knowledge

  • Use inductive reasoning by making a conclusion based on your evidence.
  • Formed the foundation of future scientific thinking
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3
Q

What did Aristotle believe about the Solar system?

A

Earth was in centre, everything went round Sun.

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4
Q
  1. Copernicus, ‘On The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres’

2. What have historians argued was his impact?

A
  1. 1543
    - Proposed universe was heliocentric, agreed w/Aristotle that planets moved in perfect circles
  2. Some historians would say he led to other scientific theories; not v. influential, only 10 ppl heavily influenced- Church v. strong
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5
Q

Johannes Keplar, ‘Astronomia Nova’

A

1609:
I. Planet move in elliptical orbits (move in an oval shape) around the sun

II. Planets don’t travel at a constant speed, they speed up when approaching the sun

  • Not v. influential, criticised by Church
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6
Q

Galileo, ‘Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems’

A

1632:
- Revolutionary- explained how traditional Ptolemaic view of solar system was impossible and Copernican view was correct

  • Can’t prove it mathematically, can’t explain eg how Earth moves
  • Developed a system that fused maths and natural science
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7
Q

Why was ‘Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems’ influential?

A
  • Galileo blacklisted from Church

- Published in many different languages, v. influential

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8
Q

Isaac Newton, ‘Principia Mathematica

A

1687:
- Mathematically proved Kepler’s law of planetary motion.

  • Proved centrifugal force, (planets are pulled towards the gravity of the sun, this also forms a circular orbit of planets around the sun)
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9
Q

What was ‘Mechanical Philosophy’?

A

Pubd by v. religious Rene Descartes in 1630s- ‘The world was a pure mechanism and was governed w/o influence of God’; everything serves purpose

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10
Q

Why was ‘Mechanical Philosophy’ influential in the decline of witchcraft?

A

Since Universe is composed of these mechanisms, can’t be influenced by God- designed it, but his influence can’t change it so Devil also doesn’t exist- thus witchcraft can’t be real. Influenced Newton

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11
Q
  1. ‘De Corpore’ by Thomas Hobbes promotes deductive reasoning over inductive reasoning. What is deductive reasoning and what is inductive reasoning?
  2. Hobbes’ Criticisms of Inductive Reasoning
A

1655:
1. - Deductive reasoning: an idea is tested to see if it’s true through observation

  • Inductive reasoning: an idea is formed and then worked backward towards generalizations and theories.
    2. Too experimental, never provides secure, irrefutable knowledge, and there is always an element of doubt w/it when some observable facts can’t be explained
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12
Q

What other theory did Hobbes come up with?

A

Materialism- Everything is created by matter, all observed events are result of matter; as we can see + touch everything, spirits can’t exist.

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13
Q

What did John Locke write and when?

A

‘Essay Concerning Human Understanding’ (1690)
- Humans born w/o knowledge- it only comes from experience so it can’t be fully accurate as experience differs

  • All objects have primary and secondary characteristics- primary are objective, unchangeable but secondary eg colour, smell, taste, are based off individual perception so they are irrelevant
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14
Q

Why was John Locke’s work influential in the decline of magic?

A
  • Spirits have no primary qualities so their existence can’t be proved empirically and scientifically
  • Made no allowances for the supernatural as he was materialist
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15
Q

What was Gresham College?

A
  • Members of collective shared interest in experimental investigation
  • Opened after long effort to establish a permanent group studying mathematical science
  • Impact was limited to academic circles but many involved go to Oxbridge, set up Royal Society
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16
Q

When was the Royal Society set up? Why is this important?

A
  • 1660- Restoration takes place, Charles II, more stable political environment
17
Q

What did the Royal Society do?

A
  • Weekly meetings, discussed array of botanists, astronomers, mathematicians, chemists, biologists.
  • Advocated use of empirical evidence- only published works using this
  • Accelerated Enlightenment- platform for religious nonconformists, helped publish Newton, John Locke
18
Q
  1. Impact of ‘Principia Mathematica’

2. What language was it published in?

A
    • Represented important break from Middle Ages mindset and theories
      - Completed mathematisation of natural philosophy- unlike earlier thinkers all his calculations worked

2- Latin but other writers like Voltaire published simpler versions of his work to mainstream science/maths

19
Q

Limits to the impact of ‘Principia Mathematica’

A

Newton was an alchemist and believed in magic, the occult, etc as possible explanations for the power of light and gravity

20
Q

Limits to the impact of the Royal Society

A
  • Early members eg Newton were interested in magical areas of study- astrology, alchemy, etc
  • Commitment to inductive reasoning- there is always an element of doubt when this is used.
21
Q

Impact of Francis Bacon in challenging Witchcraft belief

A
  • His ideas and methods were implemented, mainly after 1640
  • Influenced members of the Royal Society
  • Used in Christian theology, (the rexamining of the bible), society and history
22
Q

Limited impact of Francis Bacon in challenging Witchcraft belief

A
  • Bacon’s experimental approach allowed ‘magic’ (unexplained or supernatural physical phenomena) to be observed as part of the scientific approach
  • Some early members of the Royal Society actually used Bacon’s methods to try to empirically prove the existence of witchcraft
23
Q

Specific Impact of Francis Bacon: How was there a noticeable change in acceptance of evidence shortly before to afterwards?

A
  • 1602: One Lord Chief Justice said was willing to suspend normal ‘proofs’ and convict on ‘presumptions’
  • Increasing judicial scepticism after this point, e.g. John Holt
24
Q

Impact of Thomas Hobbes and Materialism in challenging witchcraft belief

A
  • Influenced future decision-makers and thinkers: Webster, Bekker, and Holt
  • Significant explanation 4 why belief in witchcraft declined after 1660.
  • Judges after 1660- willing to be “activist” w/scepticism, which protected more and more of the accused.
25
Q

Limited impact of Thomas Hobbes and Materalism in challenging witchcraft belief

A
  • Hobbes didn’t deny that there could be spirits w/material bodies too fine to be seen by humans.
26
Q

One specific impact of Thomas Hobbes, materialism, and deductive reasoning was an increasing amount of judges and jurors aware of logic and rationality behind ideas from people like Hobbes.

Provide an example.

A
  • Joan Buts, Surrey 1682 acquitted- hard to prove. Judge Matthew Hale, purposefully left out big amount of spectral evidence so jurors would be led by their heart
  • Indicates increasing scepticism was affecting even more levels of the judiciary
  • Reveals public belief in spectral evidence was big- Hale concerned it might affect decision
27
Q

One specific impact of Thomas Hobbes, materialism, and deductive reasoning was a shift in accusing people of witchcraft, to finding the accusers guilty.

Provide an example.

A

Sir John Holt convicted Richard Hathaway in 1701 for falsely accusing Sarah Murdock

  • Holt focused on given evidence, ?d experts on ‘scientificity’ of evidence, eg if it was possible for sum1 to live for 2 weeks w/o food
  • 1st time someone found guilty for false accusations

Highlights how deductive reasoning and materialism could discredit witchcraft

28
Q

Why was John Locke’s influence limited in the decline fo witchcraft belief?

A

Didn’t argue that they don’t exist, just that he hadn’t personally experienced them so he couldn’t arrive at any certain knowledge of them

The Witch Craze (14 decks)

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