Lesson 2: Renaissance and Scientific Revolution

detailed flashcards for Lesson 2: Renaissance and Scientific Revolution (Lessons 2.4–2.10) - Chat GPT: • Revival of classical ideas • Influence of Galileo, Descartes, Copernicus, Bacon • Mechanistic view of the mind and body

What is meant by the "revival of classical ideas" during the Renaissance?

It refers to a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman texts, especially those of Plato, Aristotle, and Galen. This revival emphasized human potential, rationality, and the importance of empirical observation, leading to the questioning of religious dogma and scholasticism.

What role did Humanism play in the Renaissance revival of classical thought?

Humanism emphasized the value of human reasoning and potential. It rejected purely theological explanations in favor of secular, rational, and empirical ones. Humanists were central in translating and studying ancient works, promoting education, and focusing on the individual.

How did the Renaissance differ from the Scholasticism of the Middle Ages?

Scholasticism aimed to synthesize Christian theology with Aristotle’s philosophy, often preserving Church authority. The Renaissance, influenced by Humanism, focused on direct observation, secular learning, and individual reasoning, which challenged both scholasticism and Church doctrine.

What was Copernicus’ main contribution to the Scientific Revolution?

Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, arguing that the sun—not the Earth—was the center of the universe. This challenged the Ptolemaic geocentric model endorsed by the Church.

What did Johannes Kepler add to Copernicus’ heliocentric model?

Kepler demonstrated that planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, not perfect circles, and described the mathematical laws governing planetary motion, emphasizing a mechanical and lawful universe.

What were Galileo’s key contributions to the Scientific Revolution?

Galileo used a telescope to observe Jupiter’s moons, which disproved the idea that all celestial bodies revolve around Earth. He also found at least 11 celestial bodies, contributing to the acceptance of heliocentrism. He emphasized observation and experimentation, aligning with the empirical method.

What was Francis Bacon’s major philosophical contribution?

Bacon emphasized empiricism and induction, arguing that knowledge should be based on observation and experience rather than tradition or pure reason. He laid the foundation for the scientific method and the classification of knowledge.

What was René Descartes’ key philosophical method?

Descartes used rationalism and a deductive method to seek certainty. He believed in doubting everything that could be doubted until reaching self-evident truths—famously concluding, “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”).

What were Descartes' four rules for attaining certainty?

1. Accept nothing as true unless it is clearly known to be true.

2. Divide problems into as many parts as necessary.

3. Proceed from simplest to most complex ideas.

4. Make thorough and complete enumerations to ensure nothing is omitted.

What is the "mechanistic view" of the body during the Scientific Revolution?

The body was seen as a machine governed by physical laws, like Newton's laws of motion. This concept suggested that bodily processes could be understood like mechanical systems—pumps, levers, and hydraulic devices.

How did Descartes describe the body in mechanical terms?

Descartes believed the body worked like automata (mechanical figures), composed of hollow tubes (nerves) through which animal spirits flowed. This flow explained reflexes and movements without needing the mind.

What is Descartes’ Reflex Action Theory?

Reflexes are automatic responses to stimuli, involving a chain of mechanical reactions through the nervous system. This process doesn’t require the mind. It laid the groundwork for stimulus-response (S-R) psychology and behaviorism.

What is Descartes' view on the Mind-Body Problem?

Descartes was a dualist—he believed the mind (non-material) and body (material) are separate substances that interact at the pineal gland. This view is called interactive dualism.

What were Descartes' views on the mind and soul?

Descartes believed only humans have a soul (mind), responsible for consciousness, free will, and reason. Animals, lacking a soul, were merely machines. This view justified vivisection and differentiated human and animal cognition.

What are Descartes’ "doctrine of ideas"?

Descartes believed in three types of ideas:

• Innate ideas (e.g., God, perfection) not derived from experience.

• Derived ideas from sensory input.

• Imagined ideas formed from manipulation of prior ideas.
  He believed some truths were so clear and distinct, they had to be innate and therefore true.

How did Descartes' ideas impact later psychology?

• His mechanistic view of the body influenced physiology and early behaviorism.

• His focus on innate ideas influenced rationalist thought.

• His interactive dualism sparked debates about mind-body interaction, still relevant today.

Why was Descartes' mind-body theory controversial?

Critics argued that an immaterial mind cannot interact with a material body. Even Descartes could not explain how the interaction occurred at the pineal gland, making his theory unsatisfactory for many philosophers and scientists.

What is the "Spirit of Mechanism"?

A belief that nature, including the human body, functions like a machine. Inspired by discoveries in physics and astronomy (like Newton’s clockwork universe), it helped shape modern science and psychology’s view of human functioning.

How did the Scientific Revolution affect psychology?

It introduced empirical and rational methods for understanding behavior and the body. Figures like Descartes and Galileo moved psychology closer to science by proposing mechanistic, observable explanations for natural and mental phenomena.

How did the Church respond to the Scientific Revolution?

The Church resisted many ideas (like heliocentrism and empiricism) as they threatened religious authority. Humanists and scientists challenged this by prioritizing individual reasoning and observation over religious dogma.