Studied by 46 PeopleTags & Description
Scientific Revolution
-scientists brought dissolution of medieval world view -based on observation, experiments, new forms of math -challenged classical view of the universe -1500-1700; emergence of modern science & inventions
heliocentric
-belief that the sun is the center of the universe -first heliocentric model created by Copernicus -differs from geocentric theory
Copernicus
-studied math and astronomy -wrote: On the revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres -created heliocentric model -ideas created uncertainty about human role in universe
Brahe
-danish astronomer; studied planetary movements -designed/built instruments for observing heavens -rejected aristotelian/ptolemaic system although still didnt accept copernicus' belief that the earth moved
Johannes Kepler
-german astronomer who was an assistant to brahe and used his data to prove earth's elliptical orbit -wrote 3 laws of planetary motion which confirmed and modified the copernican theory -demolished old systems of aristotle and ptolemy
Galileo
-first european to make observations by means of a telescope which enabled new age in astronomy -discovered craters on the moon, jupiter's moons, phases of venus, and sun spots -forced to recant his confirmation of copernican theories by the catholic church -discovered principle of inertia
if uniform force is applied to an object it will move at an accelerated speed
body in motion continues in motion unless deflected by an outside force
Isaac Newton
-invented calculus to calculate rates of change -inaugurated work on law of universal gravitation -in book titled Principia he defined basic concepts of mechanics (newton's three laws) -created concept of the world machine which stated that universe was a uniform machine that operated under natural laws of space, time, and motion
Andres Vesalius
-dissected first human corpses; father of anatomy -published careful examination of individual organs and general structure of human body
William Harvey
-theories on blood circulation laid the foundation for modern physiology -demonstrated that heart was the beginning point of circulation rather than the liver
Robert Boyle
-one of the first scientists to conduct controlled experiments -worked on properties of gases -boyles law: volume of gas varies with the pressure exerted on it
Margaret Cavendish
-prominent female scientist -excluded from membership in the Royal Society because she was a woman -attacked rationalist and empiricist approaches to scientific knowledge
Rene Descartes
-french philosopher; father of modern rationalism -1st principle: "i think therefore i am" -believed mind and matter were completely separate; known as cartesian dualism
rationalism
-opinions/actions based on reason + knowledge not religious belief or emotional response -logic is the main source of knowledge -17th century movement started by descartes
empiricism
-view that knowledge originates in experience -knowledge comes from observation -stimulated by rise of experimental science in 17th and 18th centuries
scientific method
-logical approach to solving a scientific problem -crucial to evolution of science in the modern world
Frances Bacon
-created scientific method built on inductive principles -known for his treatises on empiricist natural philosophy
Blaise Pascal
-mathematician and scientist -sought to keep religion and science united -wrote Pensees to argue on behalf of christian religion
alchemy
-medieval chemistry -attempt to change base metal into gold
John Locke
-english philosopher -opposed the divine right of kings -natural rights: life, liberty, and property -religious toleration; separation of church and state -every person born with a blank mind (tabula rasa); people are molded by their environment -representative government; elect individuals -men are naturally free and equal
Thomas Hobbes
-english philosopher, scientist, and historian -developed social contract theory -only correct form of government is absolute monarchy (argued in his writing, leviathan)
Enlightenment
-international/cosmopolitan movement in 18th century -use of reason over superstition; science over blind faith -enhanced the dominant role played by french culture
skepticism
-nothing can ever be known for certain -skepticism toward religion became more prevalent during enlightenment -potrayed church as enemies of scientific progress
travel literature
-writings and books describing adventures -led to the realization that there were highly developed civilizations with different customs around the world -helped grow the skepticism movement
cultural relativism
-caused by certainties about european customs -contributed to religious skepticism -acknowledgement of other cultures
Denis Diderot
-wrote encyclopedia to change general way of thinking -contributed to the classification of newly discovered races into racial groups -claimed christianity was fanatical and unreasonable
philosophe
-intellectuals of the enlightenment -literary people, professors, journalists, statesmen, economists, political scientist, and social reformers -came from both nobility and middle class -called for freedom of expression
Montesquieu
-criticized french institutions, especially catholic church -wrote The Spirit of the Laws; was a comparative study of governments that tried to apply the scientific method to the social and political arena -distinguished three basic government types: republics, monarchies, and despotism -advocated for separation of powers
Voltaire
-advocated for freedom of press, political freedom, and religious toleration -criticized absolute monarchies
deism
-belief that there is a god, but god isn't involved in people's lives or in revealing truths to prophets -common religious outlook of many philosophers
David Hume
-scottish philosopher and social scientist -wrote treatise on human nature -argued that observation and reflection grounded in common sense made a science of man
physiocrats
-group of economists who believed that the wealth of a nation was derived solely from the value of its land -claimed they would discover natural human laws that governed society -rejected mercantilist ideals supported a laissez-faire policy
Adam Smith
-laid foundation for economic liberalism -founder of modern discipline of economics -wrote the wealth of nations -supported laissez-faire policies -attacked mercantilist use of tariffs -labor theory of value: labor constitutes true wealth
laissez-faire
-government should play small role in economic affairs -noninterference; let people do as they choose
Rousseau
-believed society threatened natural rights -questioned beliefs of predecessors -wrote about society's corruption caused by the revival of sciences and art instead of it's improvement -sponsored by the wealthy and participated in salons -wrote the social contract
taverns
-gathering places for neighborhood men to talk, play games, conduct small business matters, and drink
Vindication of the Rights of Women
-written by mary wollstonecraft in 1792 -strongest statement for women's rights at this time
pogroms
-organized violence against jews -jewish communities looted and massacred -made jewish existence dependent on the favor of their territorial rulers
pietism
-movement within lutheranism that revived protestantism -called for an emotional relationship allowed for the priesthood of all believers, and the Christian rebirth in everyday affairs
salons
-elegant drawing rooms in urban houses of the wealthy -guests gathered to engage in enlightened conversation -provided havens for people and views unwelcome in the royal court
Marie-Therese de Geoffrin
-wealthy bourgeois widow who welcomed encyclopedists and philosophes into her salon -offered financial support to complete work in secret
Cesare Beccaria
-wrote 'on crimes and punishments' -attacked torture and capital punishment -believed criminal justice should ensure speedy trial and sure punishment; intended to deter further crime -law was to secure the greatest good for the greatest number of human beingss
Carnival
-celebrated in weeks leading up to beginning of lent -people ate, drank, and celebrated -time of great indulgence
John Wesley
-founder of methodism after deep spiritual crisis -appealed mainly to lower classes who were rejected from elitist anglican church -his preaching provoked violent conversion experiences
social contract
-agreement among individuals to secure rights by creating a government and following its rules
books
-contributed to spread of enlightenment ideas -philosophers recorded ideas in books to publish their views on society and to call for reform
Encyclopedie
-collection of works compiled during the enlightenment -explained many aspects of society -written by denis diderot
Mary Wollstonecraft
-founder of modern european feminism -said women should be entitled to same rights as men
coffeehouses
-popular institutions of european social life during enlightenment -business, science, religion, and politics were all mentioned in discussions in these places.
natural rights
-idea that all humans are born with rights -includes the right to life, liberty, and property -coined by john locke
enlightened absolutism
-rulers tried to govern by enlightenment principles -still maintain full royal powers -18th century europe
Frederick William I
-king of prussia -promoted evolution of prussia's civil bureaucracy -rigid class stratification persisted -reformed army
Frederick II
-frederick the great; king of prussia -aggressive in foreign affairs -used military to increase power -encouraged religious tolerance and legal reform -one of the most cultured and best educated monarchs
Joseph II
-ruler of the hapsburgs that controlled the catholic church closely -granted religious toleration and civic rights to protestants and jews -abolished serfdom
Catherine the Great
-empress of russia -continued peter's goal to westernize russia -created a new law code -greatly expanded Russia