The Scientific Revolution

Changes that took place at the start of the 16th century paved the way for a revolution that affected man’s way of looking at the world and at himself. Scientific advances between the 17th and 18th centuries completely changed man’s outlook in life and in the world he lives in. To them, Aristotle’s ideas are incomplete, and this moved scientists to discover the truth in the studies made by the Greeks. These studies opened the way for the scientific revolution.

New Scientific Views

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle created a system of thought based on observation and a process of reasoning called logic. During the Middle Ages, scholars relied completely on the teachings of Aristotle and other ancient writers. By the end of the Middle Ages, scholars began to question some of the ancient ideas about nature and the world. They made observations about the movements of the stars and planets that contradicted the accepted theories. At the same time, the increased use of Hindu-Arabic numerals made it easier for scientists to make mathematical calculations. Another important advancement that aided scientists was the invention of a new kind of mathematics called analytic geometryby the French philosopher, Rene Descartes. In 1637, Rene Descartes wrote a book called Discourse on Method. In this book, he started formulating a problem. To find the truth, he put aside everything and made a new beginning. Descartes emphasized the importance of reasoning in arriving at the truth. He summarized these ideas in the statement, “I think therefore I am.”

The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process of investigating a phenomenon, and of acquiring new knowledge. By late 1500, scientists started using the method. The method includes identifying the problem or question, forming a hypothesis, making observations and experiments, and drawing conclusions. Through experiments, scientists test the hypothesis under possible conditions to see if it is true. The test is repeated and if the same result came out, the hypothesis is true, then it becomes a law.

New Beliefs About the Universe

The traditional geocentric theory from Aristotle, expanded by Ptolemy was questioned by several scientists like Copernicus, Galileo, and Isaac Newton.

Geocentric Theory states that the moon and the sun, and other planets all moved around the earth.

Copernicus

Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and astronomer played a significant role in the development of scientific method.

He published a book the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres in 1543, His work challenged Ptolemy's view that the earth was the center of the universe.

First, he said that the earth was notstationary, but turned on its axis once a day. Second, he said the earth was not the center of the universe, instead the earth and other planets revolved

Because he could not provide convincing evidence, many rejected his views.

Galileo

In Italy, Galileo Galilei used a new instrument, the telescope to observe the planets and stars.

With this

instrument, Galileo was able to prove by observation what Kepler had proved mathematically that the planets do move around the sun.

In his book Dialogues on the Two Chief Systems of the World, he showed his support to the Copernican theory.

Another book was written by him which caused the ire of the Catholic Church.

He was put under house arrest until he made his promise not to teach the heliocentric theory.

Isaac Newton

An English mathematician, Sir Isaac Newton, built on the works of earlier scientists. In 1687, Newton published The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. In this book, he provided mathematical proofs of what people, such as Galileo, had observed. Newton developed calculus, a method of calculation, which he used to prove his theories.

Among Newton's most important contribution to science was the law of gravity. Law of gravity states that the force of attraction increases as objects move closer together. Newton's law mathematically explains how the moon's gravity causes tides on the earth and how the sun's gravity keeps the planet within their orbits.

More Discoveries

Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe built an observation to study the planets in the late 1500. He carefully recorded what he saw. German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler used this information to prove Copernicus' theories.

Like Copernicus, Kepler thought that Earth and other planets traveled around the sun. To prove this, Kepler performed thousands of hours of calculation based on Brahe's observations. His calculations supported the idea that the planets revolve around the sun. In 1609, Kepler announced that the planets move in another kind of orbit, called an ellipse.

Improvements in Medicine

By dissecting human bodies, Andreas Vesalius made discoveries in anatomy. In 1543, he published his work in his book On the Structure of Human Body. Between 1500 and 1600 CE, scientists made important advances in medicine. William Harvey, an English physician, made a discovery that also disproved many of Galen's hypotheses.

From his direct observation of humans, Harvey concluded that blood circulates throughout the body pumped by the heart and returning through the veins.

His findings shocked the medical world that had based its belief about circulation on Galen.

English scientist Robert Hooke made a more fundamental biological discovery, the cell.

Using the microscope, Hooke recognized cells in vegetable tissue. He called them "cells" because they reminded him of the cells in a honeycomb.

An ointment that could be applied to wounds was developed by Ambroise Pare, a French physician. He was also responsible for inventing a technique for healing wounds using stitches.

Leopold Auenbrugger discovered the connection of sound with medicine. He discovered that it was possible to know the condition of the lungs by tapping the chest.

If the chest is full of air the sound is low. If something is wrong, the sound is sharp.

Radiation was discovered by Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen in 1895. Roentgen pioneered the use of X-ray. This is used to study or to make sure of medical diagnosis.

Torricelli discovered the first barometer.

Volta discovered the use of electric battery. The word volt came from his name.

Einstein discovered the principle of relativity, or the link between matter and energy.

Louis Pasteur discovered pasteurization as one step toward the eradication of harmful bacteria.

Robert Boyle established the science of chemistry.