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L3 The Scientific Revolution

7.10.1 Discuss the roots of the Scientific Revolution 7.10.2 Understand the significance of the new scientific theories

7.10.3 Understand the scientific method advanced by Bacon and Descartes, the influence of new scientific rationalism on the growth of democratic ideas,

and the coexistence of science with traditional religious beliefs

A. Medieval Science !  During the Middle Ages, Europeans were

more interested in theology- the study of religion

!  Medieval scientists made some advancements, but did not develop instruments or a process of experimentation

! Thomas Aquinas tried to show that Christianity and science could go together

B. Humanism and Science !  1. Humanist ideas spread across Europe

during the Renaissance by the printing press

!  2. Result: the development of a humanist approach to science during the Renaissance

!  3. Humanism in science sparked an interest in new inventions

!  4. New inventions sparked the age of exploration and =the scientific revolution

C. Scientific Method 1. Observe: some aspect of the universe 2. Hypothesize: about what you observed 3. Predict: something based on you

hypothesis 4. Test: your predictions through

experiments and observations 5. Modify: hypothesis in light of results à Founder: Francis Bacon

D. Science and Religion !   People started to rely on science instead of religion

= Church lost power !   Many scientists who relied on reason still believed in

religion ! Deism= the belief that God had created the universe

according to mathematical laws ! Isaac Newton- deist scientist, believed that god created

natural laws !   Example: He saw gravity as a scientific law that

wouldn’t exist if God didn’t create it à This is an example of science and religion coexisting

E. Rationalism à As scientists made new discoveries, European

thinkers began to apply science to everything! à By using reason, people could learn how the

universe worked and could start solving human problems, making life easier.

! Descartes- addressed the problem of knowing what is true. (Founder of Rationalism)

! Rationalism- the belief that reason is the source of knowledge

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Review !   What is theology? !   What did Thomas Aquinas do? !   How did ideas of humanism spread across Europe? !   What effect did humanism have over science? !   What sparked the beginning of the scientific revolution? !   Who invented the scientific method? !   What are the steps in the scientific method? !   What is Deism? !   Who supported Deism? !   Who is Descartes? !   What is rationalism?