The Scientific Revolution and the Royal Society Flashcards
Name individuals who sparked the Scientific Revolution in England
- William Harvey
- Robert Boyle
- Robert Hooke
- Isaac Newton`
- Galileo
- Johannes Kepler
What was the scientific revolution?
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) questioned the belief that the earth was the centre of the universe.
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), laws of planetary motion - would inspire Newton’s theory of gravity,
Galileo (1564-1642), the discovery of four of the moons of Jupiter and an early appreciation for the role of tides in relation to the rotation of the earth
Significance of Francis Bacon and the experiment method?
Philosophy, law, politics ( was lord chancellor) died 1629
Bacon didn’t make a single scientific discovery, and he is instead remembered for his contribution towards the scientific method.
Focuses on ‘experiement and the rational’.
= new for time. science had been influenced by the church which restricted scientific discovery for centuries due to close belief system
What was Bacon’s Method
Method:
- Any preconceived theories should be rejected;
- Methodical and meticulous observation of facts was the best way to understand phenomena;
- Lots of data should be accumulated on the subject.
What was the impact of Bacon
Bacon greatly influenced the founding of the Royal Society nearly 40 years after his death.
locke developed Bacon’s empirical ideas in philosophy
Bacon’s rational method also used to discuss religion, history and philosophy
What was the impact of Bacon
Bacon greatly influenced the founding of the Royal Society nearly 40 years after his death.
Locke developed Bacon’s empirical ideas in philosophy
Bacon’s rational method also used to discuss religion, history and philosophy
Issac Newton 1643-1727
- theories about calculus, classical mechanics and gravity
- By 1687, Newton was able to present his idea, along with the discovery of universal gravitation, in his work, Philosophia Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
- In 1703, Newton elected twelfth president of the Royal Society, until his death.
What was Newton’s impact by 1688?
–> His work represents the final stage of a long process of theory and discovery that had evolved for over a hundred years
–> his works were not accessible to many at first, later interpreters such as Voltaire provided simpler versions of his work for the masses
What was the Royal Society?
1645 a group of natural philosophers formed what became known as the ‘invisible college’, a loosely organised collective who shared an interest in experimental investigation.
The Society was formally proposed in November 1660, at a lecture by Wren, and was established in July 1662
The Royal Society was given a formal royal charter in…
1662
Members of the Royal Society were from…
the elite and professional classes
Indicating the acceptance of science among the political class
What was the Royal Society’s journal called?
Philosophical Transactions which was published in 1665
And was the first scientific journal in the world
Evidence of CharlesII’s interest in science
Had a chemical laboratory set up in his chambers at Whitehall
HIS SUPPORT FOR THE ROYAL DISCOVERY AND SCIENTIFIC THINKING MADE AN IMPRESSION ON FASHIONABLE SOCIETY
1688 vs 1625 view on science
Science was a part of public consciousness by 1688 and was no longer viewed with suspicion
Why was Royal Society formally organised after the Restoration?
The political climate was suited to the formation of a more formal organisation
