Scientific Revolution
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Introduction
What is revolution?
It is a fundamental change in a way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change in the way we look at things.
What is Science?
Science – provides a world view and gives us ways in which to think about and explain our world and ourselves.
What is the Scientific Revolution?
It is
- · a revolution in the way the individual perceives the world.
- · a change in man's thought process.
- · an intellectual revolution -- a revolution in human knowledge
- · a change in belief
Scientific Revolution is a new way of viewing the natural world—based on observation and inquiry. It refers to the historical changes in thought and belief and to changes in society.
Brief history of scientific revolutions
Take a look at the sky. What do you see? In the morning, you see the sun rises in the east. In the evening the sun sets in the west. At night, you seem to see the moon moving around. All these gives the impression that the earth is standing still, while the sun is the rotating around. This was what early thinkers like Aristotle (384–322 BC) and Ptolemy (c. AD 85–165) saw and therefore promoted the geocentric theory. s.
Most knowledge in the Middle Ages comes from the Bible and Greek/Roman sources and this supports the geocentric theory -moon, sun, planets revolve around earth. This is the medieval world view.
During the period 1550-1700, with new discoveries, overseas explorations, Scientist begin to question accepted beliefts and begin to make new theories based on experimentation. Scholars make new developments in astronomy and mathematics.
Later, In the mid-1500s, scientists begin to question accepted beliefs and make new theories based on experimentation. This resulted in a revolutionary model of the Universe and the four giants of scientific discovery emerged:
Who are the four giants?
1. Nicolaus Copernicus
2. Johannes Kepler
3. Galileo Galilei
4. Isaac Newton
Nicolaus Copernicus ==> Johannes Kepler ==> Galileo Galilei ==> Isaac Newton
These four thinkers overturned the authority of the Middle Ages and the classical world. The authority refers not specifically to that of the Church as the authority of the church was already well under way even before the Lutheran Reformation had begun. The authority refers also to the intellectual in nature
The long term effects of both the Scientific Revolution and the modern acceptance and dependence upon science can be felt today in our daily lives
In 1948, the British historian Herbert Butterfield ((1900- 1979) wrote that:
“The Revolution in science overturned the authority in not only of the middle ages but of the ancient world -- it ended not only in the eclipse of scholastic philosophy but in the destruction of Aristotelian physics”
Nicolaus Copernicus
The Heliocentric Theory
•Widely accepted geocentric theory challenged as inaccurate
•Copernicus develops the heliocentric theory—planets revolve around the sun
•Later scientists mathematically prove Copernicus to be correct
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) was born in Poland from a family of well-to-do merchants. He was a faithful Christian and a careful mathematician. Copernicus was doubtful about Aristotle’s astronomy and physics. The society was uncertain about human role in universe and Gods location.
He explored and developed the heliocentric model for more accurate explanation of the universe. According to the Heliocentric Theory, the earth revolves around the sun, the moon revolves around the earth and the farther the planet from the sun the longer it takes to revolve around it.
However, his findings were inaccurate as there was no new evidence and contradicted the theories of the church. Hence, his findings were not approved by the Church.
Copernicus decreased mysticism and provided a new direction for thinking. This influenced other scientist (Kepler & Galileo) to present more evidence to substantiate ideas and improve his system.
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) read Copernicus's work and set about using a new invention, the telescope, to view the ‘heavens’. He improved the heliocentric theory by transforming Copernicanism from a theory about astronomy into a larger debate about the role of science. This created a new relationship between religion and science.
Galileo improved the telescope by 30 times. His telescopic observations, enabled him to confirm Copernicus's premise, is an example of a paradigm shift, from geocentricism, through a revolution, to a heliocentricism. He had other contributions in mechanics such as the concept of acceleration, principle of inertia and the concept of universe using mathematical laws.
Additionally, he corrected old Aristotelian theories & principles. He had well publicized ideas and was determined to spread his findings. This led to a change in thought in the society from ANCIENT – MODERN, evidence-based science NOT mystical beliefs. Due to a conflict with the Catholic Church, he was banned by the church.
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) came up with the first astronomical model that potrayed motion. Using Copernicus heliocentric theory, he solved problems of planetary motion and came up with 3 laws of planetary motion:
- 1. Planets move at different speeds
- 2. Planets move in eclipses, not circles
- 3. When far from the sun, they are slow but when near to the sun they get faster
Kepler took a huge step in destroying geocentric and promoting heliocentric theory. His theories paved way for Law of Universal Gravitation (Newton) and freed people from Ptolemaic system, allowing them to think in a new way. However, like his predecessors, he could not explain the phenomena.
His work was banned by the Catholic Church while church reattempted to re-impose order and reassert power. Kepler was a religious man who credited God for all his discoveries.
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton(1643-1727)
In 1666, in the garden of his mother’s home at Woolsthorpe, the great Isaac Newton was struck by an idea -- the idea that the force which held the planets in their orbit was the same force which caused an apple to strike him in the head.
This lead to his discovery of the Law of Universal Gravitation
Newton made many contributions in optics such as prism and new lens for telescope which produced clearer images. Furthermore, his contributions in motion included him refining Galieo’s theory of inertia and his law of Universal Gravitation. The motion was governed by the same set of natural laws by demonstrating consistency between Keplers laws of planetary motion and theory of gravitation. This removed last doubts about heliocentrism and advanced the Scientific Revolution.
Newton gave man greater power over his environment with newly acquired knowledge. He affirmed his law of motion (linked with Kepler’s planetary motion). \ His theories were backed by solid mathematical proofs as he explained the universe without mysticism. Therefore, astronomy earned right to be known as science. Scientific pursuit was accepted.
Effects of the Scientific Revolution
Positive effects
• · Increased Knowledge
• · Greater toleration (scientific and religious)
• · Less superstition
• · More scientific answers
• · Freedom to deviate from established theories which increased new developments
Negative effects
• · Loss of innocence
• · Loss of traditional faith
• · Loss of faith in heaven
• · Earth is no longer regarded as the center
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