Notes from Transcript: Scientific Revolution, Reasoning, Nationalism & French Revolution

Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

  • The scientific revolution wasn't a science versus religion conflict.
  • Many scientists were priests; even Galileo was a staunch Catholic, despite disagreeing with the geocentric model.
  • Enlightenment marked a pushback against religion by applying the scientific method to governing nations.

The Printing Press

  • The printing press was essential for disseminating information and ideas.

Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

  • Deductive Reasoning:
    • Has been around since Aristotle.
    • Starts with general statements to reach a specific, logical conclusion.
    • Example: All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal.
    • Based on existing evidence, the conclusion is true.
  • Inductive Reasoning:
    • Involves observation and data gathering.
    • Used in science to observe phenomena and draw conclusions.
    • Example: Observing only white swans and concluding all swans are white.
    • It starts with specific observations to reach a general conclusion.
    • Inductive reasoning may not always be correct due to limited observations (e.g., not seeing black swans).
    • Science gathers data over time to refine understanding, such as in the study of autism rates.
  • Scientific Method:
    • Starts with a general question.
    • Gather information and form a hypothesis using deductive reasoning.
    • Test the hypothesis using inductive reasoning to gather evidence.
    • Example: Tagging great white sharks to track migration patterns and forming the hypothesis that they migrate.

Nationalism

  • Shocking events often lead to rallying and increased nationalism (e.g., 9/11, Pearl Harbor, terrorist attacks in Israel).
  • In the 1870s and 1880s, imperialism and competition between countries fueled nationalism.
  • Nationalism contradicts Enlightenment ideals of equality, with ideas of racial and cultural superiority taking hold.
  • Pseudoscience was used to justify racial hierarchies.
  • Old history books often emphasized differences between races.

French Revolution

  • Understanding the causes of the French Revolution is crucial.
  • Louis XIV ran the government as an absolute monarch.
  • France had a governing body called the Three Estates or Estates General:
    • First Estate: Clergy (Catholic priests).
    • Second Estate: Nobility (including Lafayette).
    • Third Estate: 97% of the population.
    • Only the Third Estate paid taxes, leading to resentment.
    • Tax burden among different populations.
  • France helped the Americans in the American Revolution, a proxy war against England.
    • France gained nothing from the war but incurred significant debt.
  • The government called the Estates General back to raise taxes.
  • The government revealed its budget breakdown, which was a "shit show":
    • 19% to Public Works.
    • 25% to Military.
    • 6% to Versailles.
    • 50% to paying the interest on the debt.
    • The national debt took up the majority of the budget, just to pay off the interest.
  • King Louis the 16th was weak, indecisive and not like his grandfather Louis the 14th.
  • The Estates General rose up and challenged the system.