Breadth studies

What book did Kepler write?

Astronomica nova

What were Kepler’s laws of planetary motion?

Planets travel in elliptical orbits around the sun

Planets do not travel at a consistent speed

How did Kepler explain his conclusions?

through the use of physical explanation and evidence as well as his mathematics

What was the impact of Kepler’s belief?

there was a shift in belief in constant circular motion and linear motions always taking place in the universe and a use of mathematics to solve problems

What did Galileo discover?

He discovered features on the moon

concluded that the natural motion of the moon was circular

discovered the moons of Jupiter

discovered new stars

What did Galileo argue for the study of space?

the study of the universe should be balanced between mathematics and experiment

What was Galileo found guilty of?

Heresy

What was Galileo’s ideas on the movement of the earth

If a ball moves in a friction less space it will continue moving at the same speed forever

What was the impact of Galileo?

The rejection of the church to act as an authority over scientific methods

What were Newton’s discoveries?

Centrifugal force

Acoustics

3 laws of motion

Gravity

What was the impact of Newton’s theories?

Represents an important break in the mindset of medieval and early modern thinkers and marks the end of the mathematisation of philosophy

What was Newton’s impact on Magic?

Still had a belief in witchcraft and the Arcane.

The Discoverie of Witchcraft

Reginald Scot, first major work of skepticism, 1584

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, influences

On the illustrations of Deamons 1563 , those who thought they were witches were mentally ill

Reginald Scot

Hated Catholic Church

Had seen terrible effects of witch hunting from home town Chelmsford Essex in 1580's

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, argument

witches = mentally ill

beliefs of witches = fake or exaggerated

actual harm done by witches = done through physical means eg. poisons

all unexplained phenomena were produced by nature, poorly understood by people

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, significance

first major publication in England

widely read

may have led to more witch hunting = part of the reason why James I wrote Daemonologie in 1597, to counter Scots book, burnt all of his copies

A discoverie of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel'

Samuel Harsnett, chaplin to the Bishop of London,1599

A discoverie of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel', inspiration

Witnessed boy of Burton trials and interviews with the 'exorcist' John Darrel

A discoverie of the Fraudulant Practises of John Darrel',argument

all bewitched people in the case had been put up to it by Darrel for personal profit

A discoverie of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel',significance

shows skepticism of someone at heart of Church of England establishment

rose to be Archbishop of York in 1629

started pamphlet war with Darrel defending himself and witch hunting

Factional fighting within the church of England between protestants

may have been used for conflict between the Arminian faction (Harsnett) and the puritan faction (Darrel)

A discoverie of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel', Darrel's counter attack

A detection of that sinful, shameful, lying, and ridiculous discours of Samuel Harsnett 1600

two puritan ministers wrote in retaliation - "Dialogicall Discourses of Spirits and Devils' 1601, devil did not have power to possess people, all exorcisms = fake

Darrel responded 'The replie of John Darrel to the answere of John Deacon and John Walker'

A Candle In The Dark

1656, Thomas Ady

A Candle In The Dark ,arguments

Bible definition of witch = conjurer, no reference of current witch activities

Witch hunting = due to misinterpretation of Bible by Catholic Church, Associates beliefs of witchcraft with Catholicism

superstitious of transubstantiation

Criticised British works supporting existence of witchcraft

Conjurers who pretend to have magic when its only tricks

A Candle In The Dark, which book did he criticise most?

James I's Daemonologie 1597

A Candle In The Dark, Significance

Widely read, defendants in Salem witch trials referred to his work

Influential = link between his writing and decline of witchcraft in Britain after 1660

The Displaying of Supposed witchcraft

1677, John Webster

The Displaying of Supposed witchcraft, What did Joseph Glanvill and Isaac Casaubon believe?

Joseph Glanvill = Demon drummer of Tedworth was genuine

Isaac Casaubon = influential figure Court of James II, witchcraft was Genuine

The Displaying of Supposed witchcraft, argument

Beliefs not contained within wording of bible should be rejected, identified witches as conjurers, not people with supernatural powers

Argued against Joseph Glanvill and Isaac Casaubon

Witches existed, no supernatural powers, could only use poison, misinterpreted by Church

Demon Drummer and Pendle Swindle = frauds

Roland Jenks case = all his victims killed using poisons

The Displaying of Supposed witchcraft, Significance

Respected, including members of Royal Society

Respected use of methodical approach, reflecting coming age of rising science

Respected for use of evidence to support arguments

Had little effect - added little to ideas of Reginald Scott and Johann Weyer

The Displaying of Supposed witchcraft, Johann Weyer, Who?

Dutch sceptical writer who influences Scott

The Enchanted World

1691, Balthasar Bekker

The Enchanted World, Balthasar Bekker who?

Dutchman

Spent time in England

Influenced by Reginald Scott

took rational approach to Bible, Cartesian

The Enchanted World, Influences

Rene Descartes = logical philosophical analysis

The Enchanted World, argument

out of all witchcraft accusations he studied, not one had evidence that proved existence of witchcraft

Devil can not possess people, confined to hell, lacks power

all unexplained phenomena = nature, explained in time as science developed

The Enchanted World, Significance

Widely sold/translated (including English)

wide counter reaction of pamphlets arguing against his ideas

Some German Towns where witch hunting was common = book banned, his ideas had influence

Added little to what had already been written by Weyer, Scott and Webster

Decline in trials after Bekker's publication, likely due to spread of science

What type of reasoning did Bacon promote?

Inductive reasoning

What were some key elements of the Baconian method?

Scientific discovery is best aided by accumulating as much data as possible

Rejection of preconceived theories

methodical and meticulous observation of facts

What was Bacon’s influence on magic?

Bacon use of inductive reasoning reverted back to the logic used by those who argued for the existence of witchcraft.

When was Gresham college founded?

1597

What year was the Royal Society founded?

1660

What service did the college provide to the public?

public lectures on the professors respective faculties of study

How did the college change the intellectual landscape?

it promoted the study of Astronomy and geometry. It encouraged scientific inquiry and collaboration among scholars, leading to advancements in various fields of knowledge.

What political event may have enabled the society to form?

the restoration of a more stable monarch (Charles II)

Who’s method did the society follow initially?

Bacon

Who was the president of the college for 24 years?

Issac Newton

What is the significance of the royal society?

It may not have been that significant and may have only acted as a vessel in which scientists could promote studies.

What was the royal societies affect on the belief of witches?

The Royal Society helped to diminish the belief in witches by promoting empirical evidence and scientific reasoning over superstitious and unfounded beliefs. Although many founding members had an interest in witchcraft.

Why was Bacon’s methods inadequate?

it is too experimental

It never provides secure knowledge

whenever the inductive method is used and element of doubt can always exist

What was deductive reasoning?

Application of existing rules

testing of propositions

use of preconceived theories

Facts collected to prove theory

What was materialism?

the idea that everything is made of matter

What did materialism allow?

no belief in the supernatural or ethereal

What is Locke seen as the father of?

modern empiricism, only making conclusions through observing the experiences of others

What does Locke think of the human mind?

that it is shaped only be experience and not inherent knowledge

What was Locke’s significance towards decline in belief?

Locke significantly contributed to the decline in belief in the supernatural by promoting empiricism, emphasizing that knowledge is derived from experience rather than innate ideas.