The “Scientific Revolution”
Science Challenges the Old Ideas
Main Ideas
In the mid-1500s, scientists
began to question accepted
beliefs and make new theories
based on experimentation.
Such questioning led to the
development of the scientific
method still in use today.
Introduction
1300-1600 = a time of great change
in Europe.
The Renaissance inspired a
curiosity in many fields.
Scholars began to question ideas.
The Reformation prompted
scholars to challenge accepted
ways to think about God.
While the Reformation was taking
place, another revolution in
European thought had begun.
The Roots of Modern Science
Before 1500, scholars decided
what was true or false by
referring to:
Ancient Greek or Roman authors
The Bible
A few Europeans challenged the
scientific ideas of ancient
scholars or the church by
carefully observing nature for
themselves.
The Medieval View
The Earth was:
immovable
the center of the universe.
Everything revolved around the
Earth.
This view is known as
geocentric theory.
Aristotle’s idea
Ptolemy expanded the
theory.
Christianity taught that God
had deliberately placed the
earth at the center.
Aristotle’s Worldview
Ptolemy’s
Universe
They Read Too Much Into the
Bible
“[God] established the earth on its
foundations; it will not be moved from its
place forever.”
Psalm 104:5.
A New Way of Thinking
Mid -1500s, a few scholars published works
that challenged old ideas.
New theories replaced old assumptions.
Launched a change in European thought
known as the Scientific Revolution.
The Scientific Revolution was a change in
study.
European Exploration
New land/new discoveries
Scientific research
Navigation
New discoveries &
observations did not match
ancient beliefs.
Opened Europeans to the
possibility that there were
more truths to be found.
A Revolutionary Model
of the Universe
A small group of
scholars began to
question geocentric
theory…
The Heliocentric Theory
Nicolaus Copernicus
Sun was center of the
universe
Planets & stars revolved
around the sun.
Known as the heliocentric
theory
Heliocentric Theory……
Problems:
Did not explain why
Went against
religious views
Did not publish his
book until right before
he died.
Why?
The Copernican Universe
Copernicus
“Finally we shall place
the Sun himself at the
center of the Universe.
All this is suggested by
the systematic procession
of events and the
harmony of the whole
Universe, if only we face
the facts, as they say,
'with both eyes open’.”-
Copernicus
“The earth also is spherical, since it presses upon its center from
every direction.”-Copernicus
Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics,
Early scientists and Math
• Made significant contributions in astronomy, physics and math
• Began to explain complexities of solar system, limits of physical world
• Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer, among first
Copernicus
• Found geocentric theory of movement of sun, moon, planets not accurate
• Concluded sun, not earth, near center of solar system
• Heliocentric theory, earth revolves around sun
Copernicus’ theory
• Idea of earth orbiting sun was not completely new
• Copernicus developed detailed mathematical explanation of process
• Was first scientist to create complete model of solar system
Johannes Kepler (1571 –
1630)
… discovered three empirical laws of
planetary motion in the heliocentric solar system
1. Each planet moves on an elliptical orbit.
2. The radial vector sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
3. The square of the period is proportional to the cube of the
radius.
Kepler’s Solution
Kepler solved main problem of Copernican
theory
Copernicus assumed planets orbited in circle
Kepler found assumption untrue
Proved planets orbited in oval pattern, ellipse
Wanted to prove Copernicus wrong, instead proved
heliocentric theory correct
Kepler’s mathematical solar system model also correct
Galileo Galilei
Built on new theories about
astronomy.
Wrote Starry Messenger
Described his observations
from his self-made telescope.
Challenged by the church
because it supported the
heliocentric theory & it went
against church teaching.
Galileo
What if the church was wrong
about the earth being the
center of the universe?
What might people do?
Galileo had to stand trial
before the court.
To escape torture, he
“confessed” that the ideas of
Copernicus were false.
He was never again a free
man – house arrest
1992, Catholic Church
admitted Galileo had been
right!
Science and the Church
Galileo’s Theories
• Brought him into direct conflict with the church
• Church leaders pressured him not to support ideas of Copernicus
• Dialogue concerning Two Chief World Systems, 1632, showed support
Trial
• Pope Urban VII ordered Galileo to Rome to stand trial before Inquisition
• Church wanted to stamp out heresy, or dissenting views
• Trial held, April 1633
House Arrest
• Galileo stated would not use Copernican theory in work
• Received lenient sentence in return
• Pope ordered Galileo under house arrest, where he spent rest of life
Newton Explains the
Law of Gravity
Believed all physical
objects were affected
equally by the same forces.
According to his law of
universal gravitation,
every object in the universe
attracts every other object.
Degree of attraction
depends on the mass &
distance between them.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin: 1809 – 1882 AD
British From his
Studied medicine and observations, he
to be a priest for the developed the theory
Anglican Church of evolution.
Spent most of his Famous Evidence:
time collecting beetles the tortoises of the
and butterflies Galapagos Islands in
Went on a scientific the Pacific
expedition on the
Beagle voyage
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
Challenged Christian Ideas
• The value of human beings: made in God’s
image just another animal
• The purpose of human beings: part of
God’s Plan accidental without purpose
• The eternal future of human beings: eternal
soul this life only
Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalysis
This principle holds that in all mental
functioning nothing happens by chance
Everything a person feels, thinks,
fantasizes, dreams, and does has a
psychological motive.
The Spread of Scientific Knowledge
In the seventeenth century, scientific
learning and investigation increased at a
dramatic pace. Fueled by :
printing press
Scientific method became the standard
Scientific communities developed to critically
examine the findings of others
Establishment of major universities
Patronage of scientists and scientific societies
Effects of the Scientific Revolution
Laws discovered by human
reason
“De-Spiritualized” and de-
mystified the Universe
Mechanical View of the
Universe
Deistic View of God
A whole new world
Telescope: the heavens
Microscope: the previously
unseen
Think-Pair-Share
1st – Think to yourself about the following the
questions:
How do you determine if something is real?
Do you think everyone determines truth in this
same manner?
What is the best way to determine a truth?
2nd – Pair up with the person beside you and create a
list.
3rd – Share with the class.
