scientific revolution

the scientific revolution

• emergence of modern scientific beliefs/methods

  • began 1550

  • reached peak 1600s

• chem, physics, bio + maths developments

  • transformed soc views

Francis Bacon

• Baconian Method

  • implemented 40 yrs after death (1620s)

    • big influence in Royal Soc

• shld accumulate as much data abt subject as possible

  • important for scientific discovery

  • methodical + meticulous observation of facts

  • involved rejecting preconceived theories

• work became influential post civil war

  • changing soc attitudes

• empirical nature of work developed by philosophers eg Locke

• group led by Lord Falkland used rational method to understand religion + problems facing CoE

Sir Isaac Newton

• gravity ‘65-66

  • speculated inspired by seeing apple fall from tree

• laws of motion - defined concepts of inertia + force

  • laid groundwork for Einstein’s theories + modern physics

• discovered white light = combination of all colours of rainbow !

• invented reflective telescope

• ‘the Principia’

  • breakaway from mindset of Middle Ages

• 1703 - Royal Soc president

• 1700s Voltaire created simpler versions newtons work to make it⭡ accessible

Royal Society

• formally proposed ‘60 by Christopher Wren

  • ended up being chief architect for William

• est ‘62 due to -

  • scientific developments, ⭡ interest among elite, professional classes + politicians

  • quickly given royal charter (Charles II interested in science)

• met once a week, made records of work, aimed to identify false soc beliefs (trad/religious theories)

• aimed to use knowledge to improve soc, healthcare/medicine

• membership = men from all areas intellectual study

  • Locke, Samuel Pepys (diarist, civil servant)

• religious dissenters attended to gain status they wld’ve gotten from a degree (excluded from unis)

• funding - endowments wealthy supporters, pay to be member

• est scientific journal ‘Philosophical Transactions’

• encouraged foreign scholars to share findings