THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION Medieval View of Science Before

THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Medieval View of Science • Before 1500, people thought whatever the bible or ancient philosophers said must be true Teachings of Aristotle, Ptolemy, Galen • “Science” is based on common sense and reason – basic thinking (Moon appears to be moving around the earth, earth must be center of universe; witches, huh? )

Geocentric Theory Earth is the center of the universe According to the belief, the sun, moon and other planets revolved around the earth Common sense supported that view- it seemed the sun rises and sets everyday Geocentric theory Aristotle and Ptolemy Church support; God placed earth in center

Geocentric Model Ptolemy’s Geocentric theory

Major Movements brew something new… The Renaissance inspired a spirit of curiosity People started questioning things; nature, human ability, religion Inventions; Printing press! The Reformation encouraged leaders to challenge the accepted ways of thinking about God and salvation Age of Discovery – tools needed for exploration; astronomy and mathematics needed for travel; thoughts of discovery in all fields!

New Way of Thinking Scholars/Philosophers publish works challenging classic thought in the 1500’s Knowledge can help people/society!!!! Scientific Revolution!! Challenging accepted beliefs New ways of thinking of the natural world Use of observation, experimentation, logical reasoning Question everything! Nothing accepted to be true

Nicolaus Copernicus First major challenge to the old ways of thinking was in astronomy Polish cleric, studied planetary movements for 25 years 1543, published “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies” Stated new theory “heliocentric theory”

Heliocentrism Takes Hold Numerous scientists added to Copernicus’ theory Tycho Brahe recorded the movements of planets for many years; collected data, but did not publish Brahe’s assistant, Johannes Kepler proved Copernicus’s theory was true through mathematics Proved that the planets rotated around the earth in elliptically, not in circles

Johannes Kepler’s view of solar system

Galileo Galilei Italian scientist Many new laws and theories Law of the pendulum and early ideas on inertia (both challenged Aristotle’s beliefs) Built improved telescope, began to look at the “heavens” in 1609 Discoveries of the heavens published in Starry Messenger (1610) Jupiter has 4 moons Sun has “sun spots” Moon is not smooth (challenges Aristotle's belief of “pure substances” Defends heliocentrism

The Church Takes Notice Catholic and Protestant leaders learn of his findings…. Findings completely challenge church doctrine and beliefs Church afraid that this will undermine their authority If they are wrong about this, then they can be wrong about everything, right…? 1616, church issues warning to Galileo, stop it! 1632, Galileo publishes “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” – supports Copernicus Pope Urban VIII angrily calls him to Rome, orders an Inquisition Under threats of torture and death, he recants his findings. Why? Dies on house arrest in 1642 However, his books had already started to spread his ideas!

The Scientific Method Early thinking in astronomy leads to the birth of the scientific method The scientific method is a logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes perfected the method

Francis Bacon believed that lives could improve through science and knowledge As an English politician and writer, he attacked the ideas of ancient thinkers, and urged scientists to experiment Created Empiricism experimental method Use experiments and observations, then draw conclusions

Rene Descartes Early Enlightenment Philosopher, scientist Was a skeptic, believed there is truth in nothing until proven by logic and math; use of reason Developed analytical geometry to prove his theories The only thing he knew for certain was that he existed-because, as he wrote, “I think, therefore I am”

Newton’s Law of Gravity Studied math and physics at Cambridge; brilliant man By 26, belief that all objects are affected by same physical force Great discovery, the movement of that force affects/rules everything in the universe Law of universal gravitation Every object in the universe attracts everything other object The degree of attraction depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them

World Forever Changed In 1687, Newton published his ideas in a work called Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy In the book he described the universe as a giant clock, with all parts working together and was explained mathematically Credited God as the “clockmaker” Argued to be greatest scientific discovery ever made – opinion?

Revolution Spreads – Tools of the Trade 1590 - first microscope developed by Dutch eyeglass maker, Zacharias Janssen 1670 s- Anton van Leeuwenhoek used a microscope to observe red blood cells and bacteria swimming in tooth scrapings 1643 - Evangelista Torricelli developed first barometer 1714 - Gabriel Fahrenheit creates a glass mercury thermometer (32 degrees is freezing!)

Medicine and the Human Body During Middle Ages, European doctors had accepted as fact, the writings of ancient Greek physician Galen had never dissected a human being, but studied the anatomy of pigs and other animals Galen assumed the anatomy of a human was the same Medicine based off of a balance of four humors Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile

Andreas Vesalius Flemish physician Dissects humans to study the body, crushes Galen’s findings 1543, publishes “On the Structure of the Human Body” Large amount of diagrams of human organs, skeletal system, and muscles

Vaccines 1700’s, British doctor Edward Jenner introduced a vaccine to prevent smallpox Smallpox inoculation already existed, but was dangerous (used smallpox) Jenner used cowpox, a milder strain

Chemistry is Born Robert Boyle – “Father of Chemistry” 1661, published “The Skeptical Chemist” Challenged Aristotle's belief that physical world is made of four elements: earth, wind, water, and fire Instead, matter is made of small particles that join and effect each other

Science Births the Enlightenment Other scholars and philosophers applied a scientific approach to other areas of life They believed themselves to be rationale, methodical, and industrious- or enlightened These people would become the leaders of an intellectual movement called The Enlightenment