History of Science 2220 Lecture 8: Lecture 8 - The Scientific Revolution.docx

• School: Western University
• Department: History of Science
• Course: History of Science 2220
• Professor: Dorotea Gucciardo

Document Summary

Following the protestant reformation, martin luther sparked a century of religious wars. The longest was the 30 year war from 1618-1648, and ended with the treaty of westphalia, bringing about the modern nation state system. Universities began to establish new chairs of science and medicine, and the scientific method and new society (science forum for academics) are created. Greco-roman worldview (including galen) is thrown out. New conception: heliocentric universe and the world as infinite. Formulated by francis bacon, a lawyer and lord chancellor (highest officer in the crown); The great restoration, never finished or published, calls for total reconstruction of re-evaluation of knowledge in all disciplines to understand the natural, physical world. This method was to be built on inductive principles to go from the particular to the general. To be done through experimentation, empiricism, and observation. Ren descartes (1596-1650) built on this, emphasizing deduction and mathematics.