STS

First quiz

Scientific revolution (roughly 16th to 18th century Europe)

This was a period when major developments in science changed the way people thought about the natural world. It introduced new ways of thinking through observation, experimentation, and evidence - challenging long-held religious or traditional beliefs.

1. Science as an idea, 2. Science as an intellectual activity, 3. Science as a body of knowledge, 4. Science as a social activity

Science is understood in 4 ways:

Science as an idea

Science is made up of concepts, principles, and theories that explain how things work. These are the "big ideas" behind science - like gravity, evolution, or the laws of motion.

Example: Heliocentric Theory by Copernicus - the idea that the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the universe. This theory completely changed how people viewed the cosmos.

Science as an intellectual activity

Science involves thinking logically, asking questions, researching, experimenting, and solving problems. Scientists observe, test, and analyze data to reach conclusions.

Example: Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion - Resulted from long periods of thinking, observation, and mathematical testing.

Science as a body of knowledge

Over time, all discoveries and findings are gathered into a colletion of facts and information. This includes everything we've learned in biology, chemistry, physics, and other fields.

Example: Periodic Table of Elements - Organized knowledge of chemical elements gathered over centuries.

Science as a social activity

Science is done by people and affects society. It responds to human needs (like health, safety, environment), and its goal is to improve life. It also depends on teamwork, funding, culture, and collaboration.

Example: Development of Vaccines (e.g., smallpox, polio, COVID-19) - Scientific discovery led to widespread public health improvements.

It changed how people understood the world, encouraged curiosity and questioning, influenced many fields of study

Why is the scientific revolution important?

It changed how people understood the world

Before the scientific revolution, most people believed that everything in nature happened because of supernatural causes like gods, spirits, or magic. After the revolution, people starting asking: "Can this be explained by observation and evidence?"

It encouraged curiosity and questioning

The scientific revolution gave people permission to think differently. It taught people to doubt what they were told, even if it came from kinds or religious leaders. It encouraged: Asking questions, doing experiments, collecting evidence, challenging old beliefs.

It influenced many fields of study

The revolution didn't just affect one subject, it transformed many areas of knowledge, including:
-Medicine: Learning how the body works and how to treat diseases.

-Astronomy: Discovering that Earth orbits the sun.

-Biology and Chemistry: Understanding, life, elements, and chemical reactions.

Human, society, scientific revolution

Factors that influence science. Science doesn't happen in isolation. It is shaped and influenced by three major forces:

Human

People are naturally curious. Their creativity and desire to understand the world push them to ask questions and explore. Example: Thomas Edison was curious about how light could be produced more efficiently, which led to the invention of the electric bulb.

Society

The needs and problems of the community (like illness, hunger, or natural disasters) motivate scientific solutions. Example: The COVID-19 pandemic pushed scientists to work rapidly on vaccines because society urgently needed protection from the virus.

Scientific Revolution

This created a new way of thinking: based on evidence, discovery, and innovation, not just tradition. Example: before the revolution, people believed Earth was the center of the universe. But scientists like Copernicus and Galileo used evidence and observation to prove otherwise.