Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes about the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment periods.

What are Salons and what impact did they have on the Enlightenment?

Social gatherings that allowed women to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment.

What did Bacon and Descartes discover, and why is it still relevant today?

They developed scientific methods that enhance our understanding of the world, which remain relevant as scientists continue to use observation and experimentation today.

How did Galileo’s promotion of the heliocentric model differ from the Church’s teachings of the universe?

Galileo’s heliocentric model placed the sun at the center of the universe, while the Church taught that the Earth was central.

What form of government did Rousseau support, and how does this differ from Hobbes?

Rousseau supported direct democracy, where the government reflects the people's will. Hobbes favored an absolute monarchy, believing a strong ruler was necessary to maintain order.

How did the Scientific Revolution lead to the Enlightenment?

The Scientific Revolution encouraged questioning established beliefs, which opened the door for Enlightenment thinkers to explore new ideas beyond Church teachings.

What main ideas of John Locke’s were written into the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke’s ideas of natural rights—life, liberty, and property—are echoed in the Declaration of Independence, which emphasizes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What rights and equality was Wollstonecraft advocating for during the Enlightenment?

Wollstonecraft advocated for women's education and their right to enter male-dominated fields.

Why weren’t more women involved in the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution?

Fewer women participated due to societal criticism of their reading habits and lack of financial means for higher education.

What philosophers’ ideas are written in the US Constitution?

John Locke, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Describe the idea of separation of power and how our government follows this philosophy.

Legislative (Congress): makes laws; Executive (President): enforces laws; Judicial (Supreme/ Federal Court): interprets laws.

What are the Enlightenment despots, and how did they help spread the Enlightenment?

Enlightenment despots were monarchs who adopted new ideas and implemented reforms that embodied the spirit of the Enlightenment. They promoted Enlightenment thought by endorsing the ideas of philosophers.

How did the Enlightenment influence the French and American Revolutions?

Colonial leaders utilized Enlightenment ideas to justify their quest for independence during the American Revolution. The French Revolution was influenced by the American Revolution and sought to realize Enlightenment ideals.

What is the social contract, and who is this social contract between?

The social contract is an agreement through which people establish a government. According to Hobbes, it's between society and its government. Rousseau viewed it as a pact among free individuals.

Who is Beccaria, and what ideas did he prompt?

Beccaria was an Italian philosopher who introduced new ideas about the justice system, advocating for speedy trials, the abolition of torture, and the proportionality of punishment to the crime.

What social class did the Enlightenment appeal to the most, and why?

The Enlightenment primarily attracted the growing middle and upper classes due to a rise in individualism and education, which facilitated social mobility.

List and explain three long-term effects of the Enlightenment.

Political Ideas (introduction of natural rights, liberty, and the social contract), Science and Education (enabled knowledge dissemination through experimentation), and Women’s Rights (promoted equality for women).

What were some of the reasons the scientific revolution began?

Before the Scientific Revolution, many viewed the mysteries of the universe as expressions of God’s will.

What social class did the Enlightenment mainly impact?

Impacted the middle to upper class.