SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION: 1500 - 1700

Scientific investigation; Take an idea and test it.

A search for what we can know for sure.

Science threatened religious teachings as the source for people to get the unexpected explained.

ENLIGHTENMENT: 1700 - 1800

Revolution in studying human behavior using Reason and the Scientific Method.

To use “reason” to explain aspects of life:

Government God Economics Reality

ReasonDecisions based on fact and logic, not myth, emotion, bigotry, prejudice (An absence of intolerance, bigotry, prejudice in one’s thinking.)

Nature:

Happiness:

Progress:

Liberty:

Original state of something or natural tendency

Could be achieved by living by nature’s laws

Society could improve by using a scientific approach

To be free from undue control of; religion, speech, thought, trade, travel, pursuit of happiness

Social Contract

People agreeing to give up liberty to gain security. To accept government control.

Absolute Monarch

Divine Right of Kings

A king with no limit to his power.

The concept that Royal power came from God and should not be questioned.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that people should have a say in government

Benevolent Dictator

Absolute ruler whose actions are based on the best interests of his/her people

Also called the “Age of Reason”

Period of Western history (1700s) when thinkers called for the use of reason in analyzing and improving society.

The Enlightenment brought together the ideas of the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. Renaissance artists and writers adopted a more secular outlook on life rather than the spiritual outlook of the Middle Ages. The ideas of the Scientific Revolution created scientific philosophies for seeking the truth. All of these are the basis for the Enlightenment.

Isaac Newton

What’s left of Newton’s apple tree

Newton is referred to both as the last scientist of the Scientific Revolution, as well as the first great thinker of the Enlightenment. He created Differential and Integral Calculus to study objects in motion and help him with the “apple thing.” He finalized the laws of motion and defined gravity (all objects have a natural attraction that varies with mass and the distance of the objects.

Rene Descartes (day-Kart)Created Analytical Geometry

(Algebra +Geometry)

Asked the question: What can I know for sure? I doubt everything, except that I doubt.

I Doubt; Therefore I Am

. . . . Famous quote

“I Think; Therefore I Am.”

What else can I know for sure? (He also offered a proof of God’s existence)

Philosophes were thinkers of the early Philosophes were thinkers of the early 1700s who tried to use reason to explain 1700s who tried to use reason to explain all aspects of life. all aspects of life.

Their key ideas include: Reason, Nature, Their key ideas include: Reason, Nature, Happiness, Progress, and LibertyHappiness, Progress, and Liberty

Enlightenment thinkers thought that like laws in Enlightenment thinkers thought that like laws in natural science, there were laws governing human natural science, there were laws governing human society. Laws of nature (natural laws) give people society. Laws of nature (natural laws) give people rights of life, liberty and property. Men can build a rights of life, liberty and property. Men can build a fair society based on reason (rationality). They fair society based on reason (rationality). They challenged the theory of "Divine Right of Kings." challenged the theory of "Divine Right of Kings." 

Voltaire (pen name for Francois Marie Arouet)CandideCandide – (1758) most famous book – (1758) most famous book

““I disapprove of what you say, but I will I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”defend to the death your right to say it.”

Promoted Reason and free speechPromoted Reason and free speech

Attacked absolute monarchsAttacked absolute monarchs

  

Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract The Social Contract (1762)(1762)

““Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains”Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains”

King's power comes from people, not by God. The King's power comes from people, not by God. The government represents the "general will" of people.government represents the "general will" of people.

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu

On the Spirit of the LawsOn the Spirit of the Laws (1748) (1748)

““Power should be a check to power” Power should be a check to power”

A good government should be divided into A good government should be divided into 3 branches: executive, legislature and judiciary – branches should check the power of one another SEPARATION OF POWERSSEPARATION OF POWERS

Cesare BeccariaCesare Beccaria

Denounced abuses of justice Denounced abuses of justice regarding treatment, especially regarding treatment, especially torture of those accused or crimestorture of those accused or crimes

Mary Wollestonecraft

Advocated education for womenAdvocated education for women

A Vindication of the Rights of WomanA Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), in (1792), in which she argues that women are not naturally which she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason.and imagines a social order founded on reason.

Mother of Mary Wollestonecraft Shelley, Mother of Mary Wollestonecraft Shelley, author of Frankensteinauthor of Frankenstein

The work comprised 35 volumes, with The work comprised 35 volumes, with 71,818 articles, and 3,129 illustrations.71,818 articles, and 3,129 illustrations.

It presented the achievements of human It presented the achievements of human learning in a single work. Besides learning in a single work. Besides offering a summary of information on all offering a summary of information on all theoretical knowledge, it also challenged theoretical knowledge, it also challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.the authority of the Catholic Church.

Denis DiderotDenis Diderot

The first EncyclopediaThe first Encyclopedia

Candide – (1758) most famous book“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”Promoted Reason and free speechAttacked absolute monarchs

The Social Contract (1762)“Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains”King's power comes from people, not by God. The government represents the "general will" of people.

Denounced abuses of justice regarding treatment, especially torture of those accused or crimes

Advocated education for womenA Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), in which she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason.Mother of Mary Wollestonecraft Shelley, author of Frankenstein

On the Spirit of the Laws (1748)“Power should be a check to power” A good government should be divided into 3 branches: executive, legislature and judiciary – branches should check the power of one another SEPARATION OF POWERS