Scientific Revolution (ca. 1540-1690)
Definition/Overview
 part of 16th-18th c. intellectual revolutions:
o Scientific Revolution – change in scientific thought, mainly astronomy & math
o Enlightenment – change in social/political thought
 aristocracy & solid middle classes (not a popular movement)
Medieval/Pre-Modern
- religious
- scientific authorities: Aristotle, Ptolemy
- major ideas:
 geocentric universe
 universe is relatively small
 rest is natural state – someone (i.e. God/angels)
causes movement
 heavens and earth made of different materials;
emphasis on perfection of celestial bodies
Scientific Revolution/Modern
- secular
- scientific authorities: Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler,
Galileo, Newton
- new ideas:
 heliocentric universe
 vastness of universe
 inertia – a body in motion stays in motion until it is
stopped
 heavens and earth made of same materials; celestial
bodies not perfect (ex. Galileo’s scarred moon)
Causes (besides the genius of certain individuals)
(1) medieval universities
(2) Renaissance – humanism, patronage, scientific realism
(3) European expansion – navigational problems
(4) pre-existing interest in astrology, magic, alchemy
(5) new way to obtain knowledge – scientific method
- Bacon – inductive (collect data and then analyze to find general principles)
Every animal I have tested dies; probably all animals die.
+
- Descartes – deductive (start with general principle, apply to data, and find conclusion)
All animals die; this is an animal; therefore, this will die.
(6) the role of religion is up for debate (Protestantism as “pro-science” – but not until after 1630)
Consequences
(1) new social group: scientific community
(2) government investment in science
(3) new way of obtaining knowledge: scientific method
What the Scientific Revolution did not change
(1) views on gender roles
(2) living standards
(3) technology – no immediate application of science to tech
Helpful websites:
 www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/lect/mod06.html (lecture notes: “Origins of the Scientific Revolution”)
 www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/lect/mod07.html (lecture notes: “The Scientific Revolution in 17th c.”)