natural philosophy
proposes systems for how the natural world works; predecessor to modern science
Greco-Roman logic
ideas created during Greek and Roman times
skepticism
questioning the validity of assumed truth; old theories challenged not knowing the truth
Copernicus
(1473-1545) 15th century mathematician demonstrates mathematically that the Earth rotates around the sun (heliocentric)
Geometric Model
created by Ptolemy everything revolves around the earth church agrees because says in Bible
Heliocentric Model
earth revolves around the sun church dislikes created by Copernicus and further improved by Kepler and Galileo
Tycho Brache
Danish nobleman and astronomer who observes new stars and comets mentors Kepler
Johannes Kepler
German astronomer, formulated three laws of planetary motion
3 Laws of Planetary Motion
Orbits are elliptical (not circular) Velocity of an orbit is non uniform Revolution time proportional to distance from the sun
Galileo Galileo
(1564-1624) invents observational tools for observing the natural world confirms Copernican model Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems comparing Ptolemaic and the Copernacain systems (placed on Index of Prohibited Books) forced t recant because of heresy
scientific method
building theories on testable, observable, repeatable events
Issac Newton
scientific method towards physics publishes Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy defines universal law of physics invents calculus
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
describes universal gravitation (all objects have gravity) ties together and justifies work of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo
Natural Philosophers
proto scientists
Royal Societies of Philosophers
organizations of scientists to question, develop, and test new ideas
inductive reasoning
creating theories using observations laid ground work for modern scientific method
confirmation bias
observed tendency to notice/interpret data that confirms existing beliefs
Francis Bacon
(1561-1626) inductive reasoning confirmation bias noted human mind's desire for order and patterns
deductive reasoning
establish truths through logical premises; use truths to build more truths
Rene Descartes
(1595-1650) cogito ergo sum- the only thing we know for sure is that if we think, we must exist deductive reasoning-premises are correct then conclusions are correct dualism
Dualism
the mind/soul and body are separate Catholic Church agrees because supporters soul goes to heaven opposite of monism
Blaise Pascal
(1623-1662) French philosopher and mathematician who designed mathematics of probability, demonstrated air had weight) Pensees Pascal's wager
Pensees
life is miserable; God is great and the solution earthy happiness is an illusion; we hate reality and misery is normal
Pascal's Wager
if someone doesn't believe in God but he does exist=hell if someone doesn't believe in God but doesn't exist=nothing happens reason to still believe in God no matter what
Baruch Spinoza
(1632-1677) Dutch philosopher renowned for challenging religion Pantheist raised Jewish but shunned due to open challenges to religion said religions order and texts made by man so fallible (divine right and moral relativity) God does not directly interact with or act on our existence Monism
Pantheist
if God is infinite and transcendent, all things have God in them including bad things; if God and the world are seperate, God must be finite
Monism
the mind/soul and body are connect and die together opposite of dualism