Period 5
Outlines
Question: Assess the impact of the scientific revolution on religion and philosophy in the period 1550 to 1750.
Thesis: During the period of 1550-1750 the Scientific Revolution encouraged new ideas about the universe and mankind. Many topics such as the heliocentric view challenged the church and changed the way people viewed God. In addition the scientific revolution impacted philosophy because it caused people to think more rationally, and previous suspicions were ended. Mathematics was also essential in scientific study. Therefore, the scientific revolution impacted religion by challenging it and philosophy by creating new views and ideas for people.
Religion:
* Copernicus’s rejection of an earth-centered universe challenged the church because people had always believed that the earth was indeed the center of the universe. The Catholic Church decreed Copernicus’s theory as false. * Kepler was Brahe’s assistant and he mathematically proved the Copernican theory using some of Brahe’s work. * Galileo supported the Copernican theory and his findings made people question the catholic doctrines. Galileo was put on house arrest for the rest of his life and this caused people to question the extent at which religion answered all questions. * Isaac newton created a theory explaining the order and design of the universe by using Kepler, Copernicus, and Galileo’s work. * He believed he did not need religion to explain the happenings on earth.
Philosophy:
* Many scientists were experimenting and revealed new information, which made people question previous notions, and thus made them more rational minded because they began to prove things for themselves. * Francis Bacon and Copernicus encouraged empiricism and mathematics in order to reach accurate and rational reasoning. * Superstitions such as witch-hunts decreased due to the more rational thinking. *