Scientific Revolution – Key Vocabulary

25 vocabulary flashcards covering the main concepts, figures, events, and terminology related to the Scientific Revolution as presented in the lecture notes.

Revolution (modern meaning)

A sharp, radical change that completely transforms existing conditions; a paradigm shift.

Paradigm Shift

Thomas Kuhn’s term for a fundamental change in the basic concepts and practices of a scientific discipline.

Scientific Revolution

16th- and 17th-century intellectual movement that produced new knowledge, new methods of inquiry, and a self-conscious scientific community in Europe.

Discovery of the New World

15th- and 16th-century exploration that shattered European assumptions about geography and peoples, encouraging doubt and curiosity about other accepted truths.

Renaissance

Cultural revival that promoted the rediscovery of ancient texts and increased the desire for new knowledge.

Reformation

16th-century religious upheaval that weakened Catholic authority and encouraged critical examination of traditional teachings.

Scholasticism

Medieval method of learning dominated by Aristotelian logic and theology, later challenged during the Scientific Revolution.

Aristotelianism

Philosophical system based on Aristotle’s works; provided the framework for medieval science and theology.

Geocentric Model

Earth-centered view of the universe, long upheld by Ptolemy and supported by Church authority.

Heliocentric Model

Sun-centered view of the universe in which Earth orbits the Sun.

Copernican Revolution

Shift from geocentric to heliocentric cosmology initiated by Copernicus.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Polish mathematician and priest who proposed the heliocentric model in 1543.

On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

Copernicus’ 1543 work outlining the heliocentric theory.

Tycho Brahe

Danish astronomer whose detailed observations supported and refined heliocentric ideas.

Johannes Kepler

German mathematician who formulated three laws of planetary motion, including elliptical orbits.

Elliptical Orbit

Kepler’s finding that planets move around the Sun in elongated, not perfectly circular, paths.

Galileo Galilei

Italian astronomer who used the telescope to provide strong observational support for heliocentrism.

The Starry Messenger (1610)

Galileo’s publication reporting telescopic discoveries such as lunar craters and sunspots.

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems (1632)

Galileo’s comparative defense of heliocentrism that mocked geocentrism and angered Church authorities.

Roman Inquisition

Catholic tribunal that tried Galileo in 1633, forcing his recantation and placing him under house arrest.

Counter-Reformation Context

Period of heightened Catholic sensitivity to challenges, influencing the Church’s response to Galileo.

Solar Flares / Sunspots

Irregularities on the Sun observed by Galileo, disproving the idea of perfect heavenly bodies.

Scientific Community

Network of scholars who shared findings, critiqued ideas, and institutionalized scientific inquiry during the Scientific Revolution.

Queen of the Sciences

Medieval title for theology, indicating its supremacy before the rise of modern science.

2008 Galileo Rehabilitation

Pope Benedict XVI’s acknowledgment that the Church erred in condemning Galileo, formally restoring his reputation.