Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering terms, figures, and concepts of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment political philosophy.

Geocentric Theory

The ancient and medieval belief that Earth is the motionless center of the universe, with the sun, moon, and planets revolving around it.

Heliocentric Theory

The astronomical model asserting that the Sun is located at the center of the solar system, developed by Nicolaus Copernicus and later supported by Galileo Galilei.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Astronomer who developed the Sun-centered model of the universe, proposing that Earth was one of several planets that revolved around the sun.

Cosmology

The branch of science and natural philosophy concerned with the origin, structure, and fundamental laws governing the physical universe.

Empiricism

The philosophical approach promoted by Francis Bacon, emphasizing that knowledge must be derived primarily from experience, experimentation, and observable evidence.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning foundational to Bacon's scientific method that moves from specific observations to general broad conclusions.

René Descartes

The thinker who pioneered deductive reasoning and is famous for the phrase: "I think, therefore I am."

Deductive Reasoning

A logical method that moves from general self-evident premises down to specific logical conclusions.

Scientific Method

A systematic, step-by-step procedure for gathering, testing, and verifying ideas using observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and analysis.

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among individuals to form an organized society and government.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher who viewed the social contract as people giving up their rights in exchange for Protection; he favored Absolute Monarchy to prevent social chaos.

John Locke

Philosopher who viewed the social contract as a government's obligation to secure citizens' natural rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that John Locke argued all human beings inherit at birth, consisting of Life, Liberty, and Property.

Absolute Monarchy

A political system in which a sovereign monarch holds supreme, unrestricted authority.

General Will

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept representing the collective interest and common good of the entire community, which should dictate all government actions.

Popular Sovereignty

The fundamental principle stating that political power and government legitimacy originate entirely from the consent of the governed.

State of Nature

A real or theoretical condition of human existence prior to the establishment of political authority, formal laws, or government structures.

Separation of Powers

Baron de Montesquieu's political theory proposing that governmental authority should be divided into Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches to prevent tyranny.

Checks and Balances

A political mechanism designed to allow each branch of government to limit and monitor the powers of the other branches.

Revolution

A major change that happens quickly.

Scientific Revolution

A major change in thinking occurring between the $16^{th}$ and $17^{th}$ centuries ($1500$ and $1700$) when people began to use observation and thinking to answer questions about the world.

Aristotle and Ptolemy

Ancient scholars who taught that the Earth was the center of the universe, a view accepted because it agreed with common sense and the Catholic Church.

Galileo Galilei

Inventor of a telescope who discovered mountains on the moon and the four moons of Jupiter, providing evidence for the Heliocentric Theory.

Isaac Newton

Scientist who discovered the laws of gravity and planetary movement; he used calculus to prove that a single force keeps the planets in their orbits.

Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

The work published by Isaac Newton asserting that all motion in the universe can be measured and described mathematically.

Tycho Brahe

A scientist who provided astronomical observation evidence to further prove Copernicus's theory.

Johannes Kepler

A scientist who used mathematical data to support the Heliocentric Theory and describe planetary movement.