scientific revolution

the scientific revolution

• emergence of modern scientific beliefs/methods during early modern period

  • began 1550

  • reached peak 1600s

    • 2 important figures = Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton

• developments occurred in chem, physics, bio + maths

  • transformed soc views abt nature

Bacon

• created the Baconian Method

  • implemented 40 yrs after his death

    • big influence post death in Royal Soc

• believed accumulating as much data abt subject as possible = important for scientific discovery

  • involved rejected preconceived theories/conclusions

• encouraged methodical + meticulous observation of facts

• work became influential post civil war

  • soc attitudes begun to change

• empirical nature of work developed by philosophers eg Locke

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

Newton

• physicist/mathematician

• gravity ‘65-66

  • speculated inspired by seeing apple fall from tree

• laws of motion - defined concept of inertia + force

  • laid groundwork for Einstein’s theories + modern physics

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

• invented the reflective telescope

• ‘the Principia’

  • reps break away from mindset of middle ages

• later on Voltaire provided simpler versions of newtons work to make it accessible for everyone

• 1703 - became Royal Soc president

Royal Society

• formally proposed ‘60 by Christopher Wren

  • architect/astronomer - ended up being chief architect for William of Orange

• 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 (traditional/religious theories)

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

• membership incl men from all areas of intellectual study

  • eg Locke, Samuel Pepys (diarist, civil servant)

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

• funding - endowments from wealthy supporters, had to pay to be member

• est scientific journal ‘Philosophical Transactions’

• encouraged foreign scholars to share findings

• contributed to Enlightenment