scientific revolutio

Crucial for self-awareness and existence.
Famous quote: "I think, therefore, I am."
Priority of doubt as central to the scientific method.
Definition: "We cannot doubt of our existence while we doubt" highlights that the ability to doubt confirms existence.

Synthesized methodology and findings into universal laws of motion.
Example of scientific inquiry: Practiced alchemy, searching for the philosopher's stone to convert base metals into gold.
- Notable point: Alchemy’s failure teaches that not every scientific pursuit leads to discovery, but they contribute to understanding what does not work.
Newton’s findings include:
- Quantification of mass, inertia, force, velocity, and acceleration.
- Law of gravitation encapsulated in "Principia Mathematica" published in 1687.
View of universe: A fantastic, regular machine filled with mysteries still unraveling today.

Contact with the wider world led to the discovery of new species and prompted scientific inquiry.
Noteworthy figure: Portuguese doctor Garcia da Orta, who studied plants like aloe, cannabis, and coconut in Goa, India.
- Published "Conversations on the Simple Drugs and Medicinal Substances of India" in 1563, which advanced medicinal plant use.
Notable Case: Jesuit priest cured of malaria by local people using quina quina, eventually leading to quinine for malaria treatment.

Scientific developments were communicatively supported by correspondence among scientists during this period.
Examples include the Royal Society of London and its republic of letters.
Topics discussed included astronomy, anatomy, and new scientific theories.
Governments sponsored scientific research, enhancing prestige for scientists and royal courts (Galileo was a court mathematician for example).

Seventeenth-century scientists began removing religious scriptures from astronomical explanations.
Establishment of universal laws explained solar system operations without divine intervention.
Strengthened belief in rational powers alongside theistic beliefs.
Illustration of this shift: 350 years post-Galileo’s observations, humanity walked on the moon.

Shift from traditional religious beliefs to scientific rationalism.
Key idea: Authority shifted from religious texts to scientific discovery and rational thought.
Introduction of important concepts:
- Empiricism: Constructing truth based on observation and experimentation rather than tradition.
- Rationalism: Ideas should make logical sense and apply reason in understanding nature.

Challenge of historical authorities like Ptolemy, Aristotle, and Galen.
Shift in thought: Earth is not at the universe's center; heliocentric model embraced.
Galileo’s telescope exemplifies empiricism by revealing the universe’s actual structure.
Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot advocated for societal reform and challenged conventional institutions, often in defiance of traditional religious perspectives.

John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau explored social contract theories:
- Origin and legitimacy of governments rooted in rational agreements.
- Focused on self-interest as a driver of human behavior.
Adam Smith: Advocated economic liberalism:
- Market economy driven by individual self-interest promotes overall growth.
- Challenged mercantilism; introduced free trade principles.

New approaches to religion emerged:
- Deism: God exists but is uninvolved in day-to-day affairs.
- Atheism: Denial of God's relevance or existence.
Salons and coffeehouses as centers of intellectual exchange, especially in France.

Rise in agricultural productivity during the British Agricultural Revolution.
Larger farms transitioned agriculture into a business, allowing population growth due to increased food supply.
Improvement in public health: reduction in infant mortality and introduction of smallpox inoculation enhanced life expectancy.
Migrations occurred from rural to urban areas due to prosperous agricultural practices.

Shifted public perception of everyday life; practical concerns of various social classes examined.
Enlightenment Writers: Critiques on societal norms via satire; Montesquieu's "Persian Letters" showcases Eastern vs. Western societal standards.
Voltaire’s famous critiques and his view on societal moral obligations shape Enlightenment thought.
Contributions of women in Enlightenment salons; key female influencers and their roles in spreading ideas.

The Enlightenment was not solely intellectual; it profoundly influenced social structures, politics, and the collective consciousness of Europe.
Philosophy and social considerations took central stage alongside scientific advancements, ultimately setting the foundation for modern democratic ideals and practices.