Unit 10 - Chapter 17Revolution & Enlightenment

Section 1 – Scientific Revolution• (1500’s) Europeans began to question the

scientific assumptions of the ancient authorities and to develop new theories about the universe.

• Francis Bacon – Scientific method – Use inductive reasoning to form a hypothesis– Run a series of tests

Copernicus• Heliocentric solar system (sun centered).• This was viewed as heresy.

Galileo• Used the telescope to view the moon and

Jupiter’s moons.• Reinforced the views of Copernicus.• Arrested and tried for heresy – he recants.

Isaac Newton• Used gravity to explain the movements of

planets.• All things in universe are attracted to each

other.

Rene Descartes

• Father of modern rationalism• Reason is the chief source of knowledge.• “I think, therefore I am.”

Section 2 The Enlightenment

• 18th Century Philosophical movement• Apply the scientific method to all life• The physical world is like a giant machine• GOAL = improve society

Philosophes

• Intellectuals of the enlightenment• Goal was to improve society, change the

world, make it better.

John Locke

• “people are molded by experiences”• Natural rights “unalienable”• Purpose of gov. is to protect rights

Montesquieu

• Separation of powers – “checks & balances”

• No one person has too much power

Voltaire

• Religious toleration• Deism – God is a clockmaker, set the

world in motion and it runs on natural law

Diderot

• Most famous contribution was the Encyclopedia

Adam Smith

• The economy has its own natural law• Gov. should leave the economy alone• “Laissez-faire” – the state should not

interfere in economic matters

Beccaria

• Opposed capital punishment• Rehabilitate• “Is it not absurd, that the laws, which punish murder, should in order

to prevent murder, publicly commit murder themselves?”

Rousseau

• Social Contract – an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Founder of modern “woman’s rights”• Woman have “reason” and therefore should

be equal to men• Her daughter was Mary Shelley. You may have heard of her. Do you

know what book she wrote? Hint: It has to do with mad science.

Mary Shelley wrote: