DECK H — Early Modern & Modern

Renaissance / Reformation

Religious upheaval.

Shifted authority to individual conscience and scripture (Protestantism).

Sola fide

Faith alone.

Justification not by works but by faith (Luther).

Sola gratia

Grace alone.

Salvation comes solely from God’s grace, not human merit.

Sola scriptura

Scripture alone.

Bible is sole authority in matters of faith.

Nova Scientia (New Science)

Scientific revolution.

Modern science (Copernicus, Galileo) challenged traditional cosmology.

Geocentrism (Ptolemy)

Earth-centered universe.

Medieval cosmology later overturned.

Heliocentrism (Copernicus, Galileo)

Sun-centered system.

Revolution in cosmology, challenged theology.

Empiricism (Locke, Bacon)

Knowledge through experience.

Modern philosophy rooted in observation and experiment.

Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza)

Knowledge through reason.

Methodic doubt, certainty in reason (“Cogito ergo sum”).

Cogito ergo sum (Descartes)

“I think, therefore I am.”

Foundation of modern philosophy; certainty of self.

Methodic Doubt (Descartes)

Systematic skepticism.

Doubting everything until indubitable truth is found.

Intellectus quaerens fidem

“Intellect seeking faith.”

Modern inversion of medieval motto; reason precedes faith.

Anthropocentrism (Modern)

Human-centered worldview.

Emphasizes human reason, freedom, progress over divine authority.

Alfred North Whitehead

Process philosophy.

Saw God as dynamic, co-creative with the world.