Newton and Copernicus were both scientists during the Scientific Revolution. Think about how do these documents reflect the nature of the scientific revolution in Europe?
The views of Newton and Copernicus both reflect the scientific revolution by depicting the change in the way people view the universe. Copernicus challenges Aristotle's views and concludes through his observations and math that the sun is the center of the universe. Out of fear of angering the church, Copernicus dedicates his book (Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies) to Pope Paul III to show that he is not trying to attack the pope. The Church rejects this idea because it challenges Church doctrines and lowers the importance of mankind. This reflects the Scientific Revolution's ideal that faith and science/reason must be reconciled in order to avoid conflict. Newton, on the other hand, tries to reconcile faith with science by glorifying God through his findings. He believed that God intervenes in the universe. Newton also exemplified the characteristics of the Scientific Revolution by using mathematical formulas and his own observations (along with those of other scientists) to prove his laws of motion and of gravity. He also combined the empiricism of Galileo with the logic of Descartes, laying the foundation for modern science which was based on both theory and experimentation. Using math and reason (and the scientific method) rather than religion to come to scientific conclusions demonstrates the nature of the Scientific Revolution, as well.
Copernicus and Newton both greatly influenced how humans perceived the world. Copernicus proved that the earth orbits around the sun, which was the contrary to what the Catholic church and most of the world had been believing for thousands of years. Copernicus's discovery does not go along with how the catholic church wants to understand God so this discovery is moving away from traditional religious beliefs and moving towards more secular beliefs. A reader can also make note of Copernicus's tone in his letter to the pope. He was terrified of being murdered by the church and he is extremely apologetic and wants sympathy. Newton was a strong christian and glorified God for his discoveries. He uses the Scientific Revolution principle of reconciling faith and science. The reconciliation of faith and science is another popular trend of the Scientific Revolution. The Scientific Revolution is one of the the first times that great discoveries are made using math and science instead of religion and this sets up a more secular culture for the future.
Newton: This document reflects the nature of the revolution because it contains new theories based on already established concepts. Newton's 1st law of motion is based on Galileo's idea of Inertia. His 2nd law stems from the ideas of Aristotle, but rather than agree with Aristotle's concepts, Newton disproves them. While Aristotle believed that "there is only velocity with force", Newton's law says "an object with a certain velocity maintains that velocity unless a force acts on it". The beginning of the passage mentions that in 1915 Einstein further developed Newton's ideas in a similar way. His Theory of Relativity was based on Newton's laws of motion but proved that the laws were only approximately correct. Also, the footnote "translated by Andrew Motte, London" further describes the nature of this time by implying that this text was not originally written in English, but rather in Latin, the universal language of intellectuals during this time.
Copernicus: This document also reflects the nature of this revolution because it describes Copernicus's idea, which was based on earlier ideas. He opposed Aristotle's geocentric theory of the universe and replaced it with a heliocentric one. This created a conflict with the Church, because Aristotle's theory stated that the universe became increasingly pure towards the center, and at the center lived humans and the Church. Copernicus predicted this conflict, and as a result waited until on his deathbed to have his theory published. He also dedicated the book to the pope and referred to him as "Your Holiness" throughout. This demonstrates the idea of attempting to reconcile science and faith rather than prove faith by science, an idea that expanded significantly during this time. Copernicus's mention of Ancient Greeks, like Pythagorus, Lysis, and Hipparchus, and how they influenced his beliefs reflects a characteristic of this revolution as well.
A prominent goal of scientists during the Scientific Revolution is to come to an understanding of what the universe is like and mastering nature. Newton attempted to do this with the three Laws of Motion which he considered to be natural laws. These laws represent the basis of physics and describe the motion of objects in the universe. Newton publishes the three laws of motion into his book, Principia Mathematica, with reluctance due to the fear of being embarrassed because he thought about and viewed the universe differently than most people of his time. Viewing the universe differently was another theme of the Scientific Revolution. Copernicus is another who views the universe differently due to his belief in the Heliocentric Theory which claimed that the sun was the center of the universe and the Earth revolved around it. Copernicus came to support the Heliocentric Theory by questioning and revising the old works of Aristotle and Ptolemy. Looking back on ancient texts and ideas like Copernicus does is another theme of the Scientific Revolution. His Heliocentric theory was the polar opposite to the Geocentric Theory which the church zealously accepted. In order to avoid the church's wrath, Copernicus dedicates his findings to Pope Paul III. By doing so, he appears to be reconciling his faith with science which is another theme of the Scientific Revolution.
These documents reflect the differences of the Scientific Revolution at the start and the end.
When Copernicus worked in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Church exerted a much larger influence on the scientific community and Copernicus was scared to death of being labeled a heretic in Catholic Poland. Examples being Jan Hus, martyred for going against the church. He dictates his book to the Pope, published after his death.
Newton was working later after the majority of the Scientific Revolution had passed, in the 17th and 18th Century in Protestant England where the world was more secular and this documents reflect that. He never states anything about the church but presents his findings clearly and openly. This reflects the world he was living in, contrasted with the world Copernicus was living in.
These two documents show the change from religion as the center of science to math and discoveries. In the first document from Copernicus, people are just starting to really use math and knowledge to find and prove discoveries. A lot of people especially the church don't like this at all. They think the earth is the center and we are the perfect planet in gods eyes. Copernicus won't even publish his book because of this and waits until his death to have it published. Newton on the other hand has no problem with his theory. He isn't worried about the church coming after him and publishes his ideas. This is toward the end of the scientific revolution and the church has much less say in these matters. Newton was so sure about his ideas he thought of himself as "servant God had chosen to reveal truths of nature to humankind".
Even though Newton and Copernicus challenged some religious views of their time, both were devote in their faith. Newton especially, he was trying to merge science with religion within England. Copernicus, on the other hand didn't publish his findings until after his death, because he was so afraid of the church. Both of these examples show that even though the church had their own believes these men still published their findings which opposed the churches believes. This opposition was a main part within the nature of the Scientific Revolution. Newton, Copernicus, and other scholars began to challenge the Church and put a new thinking in Europe. In the Copernicus article he shares with the church that the Earth in fact moves and it and other planets orbit. In the Newton article he states that with every action there is a equal and opposite reaction and a body stays at rest, unless it is compelled to change. Both of these small parts from the articles show the nature of the revolution. Both express the different and better thinking of the world and it's surroundings. Both transformed the views of nature and society.
The views of Newton and Copernicus both reflect the scientific revolution by depicting the change in the way people view the universe. Copernicus challenges Aristotle's views and concludes through his observations and math that the sun is the center of the universe. Out of fear of angering the church, Copernicus dedicates his book (Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies) to Pope Paul III to show that he is not trying to attack the pope. The Church rejects this idea because it challenges Church doctrines and lowers the importance of mankind. This reflects the Scientific Revolution's ideal that faith and science/reason must be reconciled in order to avoid conflict. Newton, on the other hand, tries to reconcile faith with science by glorifying God through his findings. He believed that God intervenes in the universe. Newton also exemplified the characteristics of the Scientific Revolution by using mathematical formulas and his own observations (along with those of other scientists) to prove his laws of motion and of gravity. He also combined the empiricism of Galileo with the logic of Descartes, laying the foundation for modern science which was based on both theory and experimentation. Using math and reason (and the scientific method) rather than religion to come to scientific conclusions demonstrates the nature of the Scientific Revolution, as well.
ReplyDeleteCopernicus and Newton both greatly influenced how humans perceived the world. Copernicus proved that the earth orbits around the sun, which was the contrary to what the Catholic church and most of the world had been believing for thousands of years. Copernicus's discovery does not go along with how the catholic church wants to understand God so this discovery is moving away from traditional religious beliefs and moving towards more secular beliefs. A reader can also make note of Copernicus's tone in his letter to the pope. He was terrified of being murdered by the church and he is extremely apologetic and wants sympathy. Newton was a strong christian and glorified God for his discoveries. He uses the Scientific Revolution principle of reconciling faith and science. The reconciliation of faith and science is another popular trend of the Scientific Revolution. The Scientific Revolution is one of the the first times that great discoveries are made using math and science instead of religion and this sets up a more secular culture for the future.
ReplyDeleteNewton:
ReplyDeleteThis document reflects the nature of the revolution because it contains new theories based on already established concepts. Newton's 1st law of motion is based on Galileo's idea of Inertia. His 2nd law stems from the ideas of Aristotle, but rather than agree with Aristotle's concepts, Newton disproves them. While Aristotle believed that "there is only velocity with force", Newton's law says "an object with a certain velocity maintains that velocity unless a force acts on it". The beginning of the passage mentions that in 1915 Einstein further developed Newton's ideas in a similar way. His Theory of Relativity was based on Newton's laws of motion but proved that the laws were only approximately correct. Also, the footnote "translated by Andrew Motte, London" further describes the nature of this time by implying that this text was not originally written in English, but rather in Latin, the universal language of intellectuals during this time.
Copernicus:
This document also reflects the nature of this revolution because it describes Copernicus's idea, which was based on earlier ideas. He opposed Aristotle's geocentric theory of the universe and replaced it with a heliocentric one. This created a conflict with the Church, because Aristotle's theory stated that the universe became increasingly pure towards the center, and at the center lived humans and the Church. Copernicus predicted this conflict, and as a result waited until on his deathbed to have his theory published. He also dedicated the book to the pope and referred to him as "Your Holiness" throughout. This demonstrates the idea of attempting to reconcile science and faith rather than prove faith by science, an idea that expanded significantly during this time. Copernicus's mention of Ancient Greeks, like Pythagorus, Lysis, and Hipparchus, and how they influenced his beliefs reflects a characteristic of this revolution as well.
A prominent goal of scientists during the Scientific Revolution is to come to an understanding of what the universe is like and mastering nature. Newton attempted to do this with the three Laws of Motion which he considered to be natural laws. These laws represent the basis of physics and describe the motion of objects in the universe. Newton publishes the three laws of motion into his book, Principia Mathematica, with reluctance due to the fear of being embarrassed because he thought about and viewed the universe differently than most people of his time. Viewing the universe differently was another theme of the Scientific Revolution. Copernicus is another who views the universe differently due to his belief in the Heliocentric Theory which claimed that the sun was the center of the universe and the Earth revolved around it. Copernicus came to support the Heliocentric Theory by questioning and revising the old works of Aristotle and Ptolemy. Looking back on ancient texts and ideas like Copernicus does is another theme of the Scientific Revolution. His Heliocentric theory was the polar opposite to the Geocentric Theory which the church zealously accepted. In order to avoid the church's wrath, Copernicus dedicates his findings to Pope Paul III. By doing so, he appears to be reconciling his faith with science which is another theme of the Scientific Revolution.
ReplyDeleteThese documents reflect the differences of the Scientific Revolution at the start and the end.
ReplyDeleteWhen Copernicus worked in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Church exerted a much larger influence on the scientific community and Copernicus was scared to death of being labeled a heretic in Catholic Poland. Examples being Jan Hus, martyred for going against the church. He dictates his book to the Pope, published after his death.
Newton was working later after the majority of the Scientific Revolution had passed, in the 17th and 18th Century in Protestant England where the world was more secular and this documents reflect that. He never states anything about the church but presents his findings clearly and openly. This reflects the world he was living in, contrasted with the world Copernicus was living in.
These two documents show the change from religion as the center of science to math and discoveries. In the first document from Copernicus, people are just starting to really use math and knowledge to find and prove discoveries. A lot of people especially the church don't like this at all. They think the earth is the center and we are the perfect planet in gods eyes. Copernicus won't even publish his book because of this and waits until his death to have it published. Newton on the other hand has no problem with his theory. He isn't worried about the church coming after him and publishes his ideas. This is toward the end of the scientific revolution and the church has much less say in these matters. Newton was so sure about his ideas he thought of himself as "servant God had chosen to reveal truths of nature to humankind".
ReplyDeleteEven though Newton and Copernicus challenged some religious views of their time, both were devote in their faith. Newton especially, he was trying to merge science with religion within England. Copernicus, on the other hand didn't publish his findings until after his death, because he was so afraid of the church. Both of these examples show that even though the church had their own believes these men still published their findings which opposed the churches believes. This opposition was a main part within the nature of the Scientific Revolution. Newton, Copernicus, and other scholars began to challenge the Church and put a new thinking in Europe. In the Copernicus article he shares with the church that the Earth in fact moves and it and other planets orbit. In the Newton article he states that with every action there is a equal and opposite reaction and a body stays at rest, unless it is compelled to change. Both of these small parts from the articles show the nature of the revolution. Both express the different and better thinking of the world and it's surroundings. Both transformed the views of nature and society.
ReplyDelete