Week 8 Flashcards
What was the Enlightenment?
A European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that instigated revolutionary developments in art, philosophy, and politics
What two monumental concepts were at the heart of the Enlightenment?
- Universality
- Progress
How did the Enlightenment influence natural philosophy?
Natural philosophy began to flow into the general culture beyond a small elite of the intellectual class
What role did literacy play in the popularization of science during the Enlightenment?
Rising levels of literacy contributed to natural philosophy becoming a more fashionable subject
Name three scientific societies established during the Enlightenment.
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (1713)
- Russian Academy of Science (1724)
- Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters (1742)
Who was Émilie du Châtelet?
A prominent woman in science known for her translation of Newton and collaboration with Voltaire
What significant competition did Émilie du Châtelet enter in 1737?
Académie Competition with the question ‘What is Fire?’
What was the main goal of Diderot’s Encyclopédie?
To assemble all knowledge scattered on the surface of the earth and transmit it to future generations
What was the significance of the Leyden jar in the study of electricity?
It was discovered in Musschenbroek’s lab and became a favorite experiment in the 18th century
What major scientific reform occurred in France in 1790?
The introduction of the Metric System and the creation of National Archives
Who was Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier?
A French chemist known for experimentation with oxygen and hydrogen and for publishing important works in chemistry
What theory did Lavoisier help to end?
The phlogiston theory
What was one of Lavoisier’s important publications?
Method of Chemical Nomenclature, 1787
Fill in the blank: The Académie royale des sciences was replaced by the _______ in 1795.
National Institute of Sciences and Arts
True or False: The French Revolution had a uniform attitude towards science.
False
What was the role of women in science during the Enlightenment?
Women like Émilie du Châtelet and Caroline Herschel made significant contributions but faced societal challenges
Name two women who contributed to science in the Enlightenment.
- Caroline Herschel
- Cristina Roccati
What was the first modern textbook on chemistry authored by Lavoisier?
Elementary Treatise on Chemistry, 1789
What was the impact of salons on women in science?
Salons provided a platform for women to engage in scientific discourse and collaboration
What was the significance of the Louvre Museum established in 1793?
It was part of a set of cultural institutions created to preserve national memory and educate the masses
What were the two core ideals at the heart of the Enlightenment?
Universality and Progress.
What goals did Enlightenment thinkers believe rational humanity should strive for?
Knowledge, freedom, and happiness.
Why did scientific societies flourish during the Enlightenment?
Increased literacy and Enlightenment ideals made science popular and fashionable.
Name two types of places where science was popularized in the 18th century.
Salons and coffee houses.
What was the significance of public science demonstrations in the Enlightenment?
They made natural philosophy accessible and entertaining to a wider audience.
Who translated Newton’s Principia into French and collaborated with Voltaire?
Émilie du Châtelet.
What scientific idea did Émilie du Châtelet explore in the 1737 Académie competition?
The relationship between optics and heat (precursor to infrared studies).
Who was Caroline Herschel and what did she contribute to science?
An astronomer who discovered comets and worked with her brother William Herschel.
What was the Lunar Society, and where was it based?
An elite amateur scientific society in Birmingham, England (1765–1813).
Who were notable members of the Lunar Society?
Matthew Boulton, James Watt, William Murdoch, James Keir.
What was the main goal of Diderot’s Encyclopédie?
To compile and spread all human knowledge for the benefit of current and future generations.
What device made early experiments in electricity possible?
The Leyden jar.
What was the “electrical boy” in the context of 18th-century science?
A public demonstration used to entertain and educate people about electricity.
What major reform to measurement occurred during the French Revolution?
The introduction of the metric system in 1790.
Why was the Académie royale des sciences closed in 1793?
It was viewed as a place of aristocratic privilege.
What institution replaced the Académie royale des sciences in 1795?
The National Institute of Sciences and Arts.
Name two Enlightenment-era institutions founded during the French Revolution.
The Louvre Museum (1793) and the École Polytechnique (1794).
Who was Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier?
A French chemist who revolutionized chemistry and helped end phlogiston theory.
What did Lavoisier discover through experiments with oxygen and hydrogen?
That combustion involved chemical reactions with oxygen, not phlogiston.
What was the significance of Method of Chemical Nomenclature (1787)?
It laid the groundwork for modern chemical naming and influenced the periodic table.
What role did Marie-Anne Paulze play in Lavoisier’s work?
She translated scientific texts and documented laboratory experiments.
What happened to Lavoisier during the French Revolution?
He was executed despite his scientific achievements.
