the scientific revolution and the enlightenment: the emergence of the critical world- view
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The Scientific Revolution And the Enlightenment: The Emergence of the Critical World- View. Max Bernbeck, Tim Mauss, and Jacob Sekins. The Scientific Revolution. Causes of the Scientific Revolution. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Scientific Revolution The Scientific Revolution And the Enlightenment: And the Enlightenment:
The Emergence of the The Emergence of the Critical World- Critical World-
ViewViewMax Bernbeck, Tim Mauss, and Jacob Sekins
The Scientific Revolution The Scientific Revolution
Causes of the Scientific Causes of the Scientific RevolutionRevolution
““[…]standing on the shoulders of […]standing on the shoulders of Giants.”Giants.”
Medieval Europe maintained an underrated university system, even throughout the intellectually oppressive “Dark Ages”
Professors trained professionals (lawyers, doctors, etc.) Philosophy emerged as a viable field of study produced an
environment of free expression and critical thinking
A Community of ScholarsA Community of Scholars
Philosophy
Mathematics Physics Astronomy
“Community of scholars”: as support for scientific research developed, fields
became more specified and students were trained accordingly.
Renaissance and ExplorationRenaissance and Exploration
Access to ancient scientific works desire to resolve incongruities between classical and “modern” theories
Inadequacies in naval technology during Age of Exploration government-commissioned projects to improve navigational tools increased value placed on a scientific education
Gresham CollegeImproved tools easier to objectively study
the elements that compose the universe
Political InfluencesPolitical Influences
Lack of unifying religious authority in the Low Countries and England support for the study of “neutral questions”
Politics & Geography Politics & Geography
Success of scientific research depended on depth of religious tradition
Galileo was tried by a Papal tribunal in FlorenceNewton was lauded as a hero and celebrity in England
• Traditionally Catholic countries (Italian city-states, Spain, France, etc.) were far less “revolutionary”
• Comparatively “liberal” countries with no central religious figures proceeded more quickly
Intellectual Intellectual DevelopmentsDevelopments
Until 1500—based on Aristotle crystal sphere is basis of astronomy (beyond the tenth was heaven)
Introduction of the scientific method (pioneered by Descartes)
Logic over blind faith
Major ThinkersMajor Thinkers
Newton: Gravity, Laws of Universal Gravitation, physics, wrote Principia in 1687
Galileo Galilei: Gravity test, Law of Inertia, used experimental method, many astronomical advances church attempted to silence him (Dialogue on Two Chief Systems of the World-1632)
Copernicus: Heliocentricity, used Ptolemy’s telescope, but discovered flaw in Ptolemaic system of thought
Tycho Brahe: Collected data to deny Copernicus, died, and Kepler (student) eventually used extensive data to confirm Copernican model
More Thinkers…More Thinkers…
Sir Francis Bacon: Scientific method (Theory Experiment Conclusions (empirically testable)
Descartes: Doubt everything Cartesian dualism
TechnologyTechnology
Mathematics used to create accurate sea charts
New instruments: telescope, barometer, thermometer, pendulum clock, microscope, air pump better able to observe the world
Applied theory leads to applied technology close link to theoretical science
EconomicsEconomics
Research largely sponsored by monarchs King of Portugal (1484) commissioned naval exploration creation of a fixed longitude
Trading companies turn to science and invest in colleges
Incorporation of Protestantism into pioneer capitalism
Improvements in navigation –> Facilitation of overseas trade leading merchants enriched
The Enlightenment The Enlightenment
Causes of the Causes of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment
Considered by many as a natural extension of the Scientific Revolution (it gained momentum for the same reasons)
Newton’s Principia (1713) + Death of Louis XIV (1715)
Motivation to explore mathematical as well as socio-
political theories
Politics & GeographyPolitics & Geography
John LockeJohn Locke
Second Treatise of Civil Government (1689) = Humans are a “tabula rasa” impressionability means that government should protect their liberties and uphold justice
Social ills can be solved by a responsible, attentive government citizens not corrupted or confused
French Response French Response
Resorted to censorship in an effort to protect the dying process of absolutism
Central authorities became especially desperate after the death of the “Sun King”
Montesquieu v. VoltaireMontesquieu v. Voltaire
Spirit of Laws = comprehensive study of monarchs and despots focused on the conditions that produce tyranny, and those that would prevent it
Separation of power: process by which the upper middle class checks the power of the ruling authority
“Parlements” assist this process (basis for much of American and French constitutions)
Absolute monarchs are acceptable if they protect inherent human liberties
Abused by the legal system at a young age appealed for fairer institutions, but not replacement of them (reform over revolution)
Age of Louis XIV (1751) = portrayal of the strengths and benefits of absolutism
Absolute monarchs create or worsen conditions that contribute to tyranny and injustice
Rousseau Rousseau
Rationalism and reason imprison the soul by overwhelming it with “cold intellect”
Government and societal institutions by nature diminish human spontaneity
Social Contract (1762)= sovereign power removed from the monarch and entrusted to the people, since the activities of government should reflect their needs
“General will” is not necessarily the demands of the majority, but rather what is considered beneficial to society as it’s perceived by the minority
Enlightened Despots Enlightened Despots
Catherine the Great of Russia: Ignored by husband solace in Voltaire “imported” enlightened culture (improved education, lessened torture, offered limited religious tolerance, localized nobility’s control of serfs after Pugachev’s Rebellion, defeated Turks, partitioned Poland)
Frederick the Great of Prussia: Overbearing father militaristic nature compensated by indulging in Enlightenment culture
◦ Recognized that liberalizing would strengthen the potential of the state religious freedom, freedom to publish, streamlined legal system, outlawed torture, improved schools
The Austrian Habsburgs: ◦ Maria Theresa: limited papal influence, reorganized and strengthened the
central bureaucracy, reduced power of lords over serfs and tennant farmers◦ Joseph II: Abolished serfdom, further controlled Catholic Church’s influence,
granted religious tolerance to Jews and Protestants
EconomicsEconomics
Adam Smith- On the Wealth of Nations (1776)• Moved away from mercantilism to capitalist
economies• Philosophes tried to influence social and
economic elites• Market for books grew dramatically• Illegal book trade Scandalous subjects
Intellectual Intellectual DevelopmentsDevelopments
Thinkers/ IdeasThinkers/ Ideas
NationalismParlors/SalonsFundamental rights –Locke Voltaire—study scientific discoveries,
popularize English science and government; expounded need for good monarch to protect the weak
Published Encyclopedia (1751)—Diderot + Alembert- controversial topics
……More Thinkers/ IdeasMore Thinkers/ Ideas
Rousseau –belief in General Will, Social Contract
Baron von Holbach—System of Nature; champion of Deism
Scientific method applied to everyday life rationalism
Bernard de Fontenelle (Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds)
Science conflicted with Religion based on Enlightenment
ArtArt
Artistic StylesArtistic Styles
1650 1850
Baroque: Very Detailed/
Complicated
Neoclassical: Heavily
influenced by Greek/Roman art
Romantic: Feelings
and nature
1750
ArchitectureArchitecture
Rococo: Very Ornate, frilly
Neoclassicism: Geometric styles and patterns
ReligionReligion
Church Loses InfluenceChurch Loses Influence
Great Schism + protestant reformation = People question religious authority
So many new churches formed, Europe became divided based on religion
Deism – God is like a clock maker who created the universe, but doesn’t meddle in its everyday operation
Social Consequences Social Consequences
PhilosophesPhilosophes
Philosophes= Well educated upper middle class were able to gain influence with through public forums like the Salon, and growing universities
Increased literacy as philosophes published their ideas
Middle and lower classes have easier access to higher education reform movements
Women, like Mary Wollstonecraft, reached a higher standing due to easier access to education.
Enlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots
Political leaders influenced by Enlightenment ideas social reform
Prussia and Austria abolished serfdom and allowed a higher degree of religious toleration
Russia enacted legal reform that lightened severe punishments
The SalonThe Salon
Acted as a private meeting place for enlightenment thinkers
Allowed ideas to develop and spread relatively quickly between thinkers
Often run by women like Mme. Geoffrin who, as host, had control of which topics were discussed