THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION AND

ENLIGHTENMENT

Key Ideas:

Reason

Predictable

Laws

lead to

progress

Logical Thinking

Spreads From

Science &

Natural Law

to

Society &

Politics

THE RENAISSANCE EMPHASIS ON THE VALUE OF SECULARISM &

HUMANISM AND REFORMATION SPIRIT OF INDIVIDUALS

CHALLENGING AUTHORITY ENCOURAGES MANY TO EXPLORE THE

NATURAL WORLD LEADING TO…

The “Scientific Revolution”

Between about 1500 and 1700, scientists, or “natural

philosophers” as they were called, developed a new worldview

that became the basis of modern scientific study. Planetary

motion, the composition and movement of matter on earth, the

biological systems of plants and animals all were the focus of

study during this period. Scientists began to envision a complex

universe which could best be understood through

experimentation and mathematics. These curious investigators

of nature organized into the scientific disciplines (physics,

chemistry, biology, etc.) we know today during this period known

by historians as the “scientific revolution”.

Watch first 10 Minutes of: Nova - Galileo's Battle for the

Heavens (PBS Documentary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnEH9rbrIkk

Notebook Assignment #6: Scientific Revolution Documents

Document 1

Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish priest and astronomer, dedication to

Pope Paul III in the introduction of Copernicus’ book, On the

Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres, 1543.

The learned and unlearned alike may see that I shrink from no man’s

criticism. It is to your Holiness rather than to anyone else that I have

chosen to dedicate these studies of mine. In this remote corner of the

Earth in which I live, you are regarded as the most eminent by virtue of

the dignity of your Office, and because of your love of letters and science.

You, by your influence and judgment, can readily hold the slanderers

from biting. Mathematics are for mathematicians, and they, if I be not

wholly deceived, will hold that my labors contribute even to the well-

being of the Church.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 2

John Calvin, French Protestant philosopher and writer,

Commentaries on the First Book of Moses, 1554.

Moses wrote in a popular style things which, without

instruction, all ordinary persons endowed with common

sense, are able to understand; but astronomers investigate

with great labor whatever the wisdom of the human mind can

comprehend. This study should not be prohibited, nor this

science condemned, because some frantic and ignorant

persons boldly reject whatever is unknown to them. For

astronomy is not only pleasant, but also very useful: it cannot

be denied that this art unfolds the admirable wisdom of God.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 3

Giovanni Ciampoli, Italian monk, letter to Galileo, 1615.

Your opinion of the phenomena of light and shade on the clear

and spotted surfaces of the Moon assumes some analogy

between the Earth and the Moon. Someone adds to this and

says you assume that the Moon is inhabited by humans. Then

another starts discussing how they could be descended from

Adam or how they could have gotten out of Noah’s ark, and

many other extravagant ideas that you never even dreamed of.

It is indispensable, therefore, to remove the possibility of

malignant rumors by repeatedly showing your willingness to

defer to the authority of those who have jurisdiction over the

human intellect in matters of the interpretation of Scripture.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 4

Francis Bacon, English natural philosopher, The Establishment of

Scientific Thinking, 1620.

Men have sought to make a world from their own conception and

to draw from their own minds all the material which they

employed, but if, instead of doing so, they had consulted

experience and observation, they would have the facts and not

opinions to reason about, and might have ultimately arrived at the

knowledge of the laws which govern the material world…

The great and powerful reason why the sciences have yet made little

progress [is it] not possible to run a race when the goal itself has not been

rightly chosen by [the church]. The true and lawful goal of the sciences is

this: that human life be endowed with new discoveries and powers. Yet,

the unknown is fearsome to those in power.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 5

The Papal Inquisition’s condemnation of Galileo, 1633

We say, pronounce, sentence, and declare that you the said Galileo, by reason of

the matters discussed in trial, and by your confession as you rendered, are in the

judgment of this Holy Office vehemently suspected of heresy, namely, of having

believed and held the doctrine-which is false and contrary to the sacred and

divine Scriptures--that the Sun is the center of the world and does not move from

east to west and that the Earth moves and is not the center of the world…

Furthermore, your opinion has been declared and defined to be contrary to the

Holy Scripture; and that consequently you have incurred all the censures and

penalties imposed and stated in the sacred laws of the Church, for [breaking] this

sacred law...

From which we are content that you be absolved, provided that, first, with a

sincere heart and unfeigned faith, you renounce, curse, and detest before us the

aforesaid errors and heresies and every other error and heresy contrary to the

Catholic Roman Church in the form to be prescribed by us for you.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 6

Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher in his book,

Leviathan, 1668.

The doctrine of what is right and wrong is perpetually

disputed both by the pen and by the sword, but geometry is

not. Why? Because in geometry few men care what the truth

may be, since it affects no one’s ambition, profit, or lust. But if

Euclid’s (Greek mathematician) proposition that the three

angles of a triangle are equal to the two angles of a square,

conflicted with the interests of those who rule, I know it would

be suppressed.

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

Document 7

Margaret Cavendish, English natural philosopher in her book,

Observations on Experimental Philosophy, 1666.

Were it allowable for our sex, I might set up my own school of natural

philosophy. But I, being a woman, I do fear they would soon cast me out

of their schools. For though the Muses, Graces, and Sciences* are all of

the female gender, yet they were more esteemed in former ages, than

they are now. Nay, could it be done handsomely, they would turn all from

females into males, so great has grown the current self-conceit of the

masculine and the disregard of the female sex.

*All represented as female goddesses in classical mythology

Who is the

author of the

document?

What is the author of the document basically

saying in your OWN words?

What is PURPOSE or POINT OF VIEW of

the documents author?

NB#6 - Scientific Revolution Documents Analysis

Why was challenging to be a scientifically

minded person during the 16th & 17th Centuries?

Use some specific examples from the documents

in your answer.

FROM SCIENCE TO PHILOSOPHY…

The Scientific Revolution and discovery of natural laws prompted many who were not scientists, but were philosophers and writers, to wonder if they could apply the same ideas of questioning and searching for natural laws to SOCIETY and GOVERNMENT.

The ENLIGHTENMENT was a new intellectual movement that stressed REASON and QUESTIONING and the power of INDIVIDUALSto make conclusions for themselves about society and politics.

TIME FOR A SELF QUIZ: DO YOU AGREE WITH

THE ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS?

Answer quiz questions to find out!

Number on scrap paper 1-12 and write

Agree

or

Disagree

As you read the following statements.

1. I believe that truth can only be discovered through reason logical thinking – for example, the scientific method. Nothing should be accepted on faith alone.

2. I believe that human nature is generally good and people are reasonable.

3. Society and people are constantly improving and moving in a good direction.

4. It is important that people are granted individual rights that the government needs to protect.

5. I enjoy having intellectual conversations with other people about the nature of life and society.

6. I believe that people are a clean slate when they are born and that their experiences and education make them what they are.

7. If the government doesn’t protect your rights, you have the right to overthrow it.

8. The best kind of government is one where there are separate government bodies, like a congress and president, where each branch can “check” the other.

9. Society is actually bad: people are born free with potential, but society chains them down.

10. The best type of government is one that does what most of the people want all of the time.

11. Rights for prisoners are important: torture should not be allowed and the death penalty abolished.

12. Education, for both men and women, is one of the most important things for human beings.

HOW TO SCORE YOUR QUIZ

If you answered I AGREE with questions 1 - 5 you are in line

with one of the most outspoken writers and thinkers of the

Enlightenment: Voltaire, a writer who influenced other

Enlightenment thinkers and leaders across Europe and

beyond.

If you answered I AGREE to #6 and #7, then you

agree with John Locke – optimist of the

Enlightenment who thought that people were a blank

slate when they were born and that education could

make society good.

He also had ideas about government that we use in

our constitution today.

If you answered I AGREE to #8 you got your ideas

from Baron de Montesquieu who believed in the

separation of powers, like our government today.

If you answered I AGREE to #9 and #10 then you identify

with Jean Jacques Rousseau – pessimist of the

Enlightenment. He believed society chains people down

and limits their freedom.

He did think, optimistically, the best society is one that

responds to the “general will” – what most people want.

If you AGREE with #11, you agree with Cesare Beccaria

who tried to limit the widespread torture that was acceptable

as punishment for crimes in the 1700s.

#12: ALL Enlightenment thinkers agreed in the need for

education, but some were against education for women.

Mary Wollstonecraft argued that the need to be educated

was important for men and women equally.

NB# 7: Intellectual Revolutions – Enlightenment Political PhilosophersPolitical Philosopher Main Ideas of Some Quotes In Own Words How Do These Ideas Show An “Intellectual Revolution”?

John

Locke

Baron de

Montesquieu

Voltaire

Jean-Jacques

Rousseau

Mary

Wollstonecraft

NB#7: Intellectual Revolutionaries - Enlightenment Political Philosophers

John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Voltaire

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Mary Wollstonecraft

Main idea: The ideas of these Enlightenment (aka “The Age of Reason”)

political philosophers challenged traditional powers during the 17th & 18th Centuries.

Directions- Watch 6 Minute Enlightenment Intro Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7q5oT-X_PI

- Carefully read political philosophers Quotes

- Fill out “Political Philosophers” chart as directed for

Notebook Assignment #7

Watch Review videos below if you have time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP8k_f3PFq8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6_i0dInceg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drgsZc8Gjb8

John Locke (1632 - 1704)

All mankind ... being all equal and independent, no one ought to

harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

The purpose of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and

enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of

law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.

Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a

right to, but himself.

Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.

Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is

thinking that makes what we read ours.

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

The tyranny of a prince in an monarchy is not so dangerous to the public

welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

In order to have liberty, it is requisite the government be so constituted as

one man need not be afraid of another. When the legislative and executive

powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates,

there can be no liberty.

Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments; and even in

these it is not always found. It is there only when there is no abuse of

power: but constant experience shows us that every man invested with

power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

To prevent this abuse, it is necessary, from the very nature of things, that

power should be a check to power.

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare the truth, that all may share; be bold, proclaim it everywhere. They only live

who dare.

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.

Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy the mad daughter of a wise mother. These mad daughters have

too long dominated the earth.

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains … one who

believes himself the master of others is a greater slave than

they.

No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.

Force does not constitute right ... obedience is due only to

legitimate powers.

Free people, remember this: we may acquire liberty, but it is

never recovered if it is once lost.

We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid;

foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we

need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education.

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)

Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.

Taught from infancy that beauty is woman's scepter, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage,

only seeks to adorn its prison.

If women be educated for dependence; that is, to act according to the will of another fallible being, and submit,

right or wrong, to power, where are we to stop?

Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without any direct share by men.

The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be questioned

without danger.