THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

1. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

2. 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?)

3. 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

5. Geocentric Model • Ptolemy’s Geocentric theory

6. 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!

7. 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

8. 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”

10. 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

11. Johannes Kepler Johannes Kepler’s view of solar system

12. 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

14. 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!

16. 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

17. Francis Bacon • 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

18. 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”

19. 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

21. 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?

23. Revolution Spreads – Tools of the Trade • 1590- first microscope developed by Dutch eyeglass maker, Zacharias Janssen • 1670s- 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!)

25. Medicine and the Human Body • During Middle Ages, European doctors had accepted as fact, the writings of ancient Greek physician Galen • 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

27. 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

29. 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

31. 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

32. 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