Difference between revisions of "Scientific Revolution"
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| − | ''' | + | The '''Scientific Revolution''' is a name that some modern historians use to describe what they call the beginning of modern [[science]] in the mid-1500s. At that time, according to their theory, scientists began to develop the systematic use of [[hypotheses]], and to continually test them with [[observation]] and [[experimentation]]. Their best example is Copernicus publishing the [[Heliocentrism|heliocentric theory]] that the Earth revolves around the Sun, as opposed to the [[Geocentric theory|geocentric theory]] that Sun revolves around the Earth.<ref>Eg, see http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html</ref> |
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| − | + | In fact, Copernicus had no observations or experiments to show that his model was better than others, and his methods were not significantly more scientific that those that had been in use older cosmological models for over a thousand years. There was no intellectual revolution in the sense of a profound change in intellectual thought. The progress of science has been gradual and continuous. | |
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| − | + | The whole idea of the Scientific Revolution appears to be driven in part by some terminological confusion. Copernicus's famous book was titled ''De revolutionibus orbium coelestium'' (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). His name was long associated with the word "revolution" in the sense of planetary motion, not in the sense of an intellectual revolution. | |
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| − | == | + | == Influence of Religion == |
| − | + | An 1867 article in the church-oriented ''Contemporary Review'' uses the phrase, while making the point that the scientific revolution was not only not, as often implied, an opposition to religion, but was in fact largely the work of the clergy. The author suggests that "Galileo, the layman, was himself partly to blaim for the persecution which the churchman, Copernicus avoided." He then continues: | |
| − | + | :Let us mark down, for instance, the names of churchmen as they come before us in the history of the scientific revolution which lies parallel to the Reformation. As far back as the twelfth century, the great mystical theologian, Richard of St. Victor, described the true method of physical inquiry... Raymond Lully became a Franciscan missionary. Roger Bacon has all but lost his title of ''Doctor mirabilis'' under the designation of Franciscan friar. Cusanus was a cardinal.... Copernicus passed over from medicine to the Church, and spent much of his life as a cathedral canon. It is the same in every branch of intellectual movement. Churchmen are ever foremost in the ranks...<ref>Hannah, J (1867), ''The Attitude of the Clergy Toward Science,'' The Contemporary Review, 1867, volume IV, [http://books.google.com/books?id=EQcJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA7 p. 7]</ref> | |
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| − | + | == Paradigm Shift == | |
| − | + | Thomas Kuhn's book ''The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,'' popularized the term ''scientific revolution'' (and [[paradigm shift]]) to describe changes in accepted scientific thinking in a particular scientific field brought about by a new theory. Kuhn believed that the changes are not necessarily rational or leading to progress. The Copernican model of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun was one of his best examples.<ref>T.S.Kuhn, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", University of Chicago Press, 1962.</ref> | |
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| − | + | ==Notes and references== | |
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| − | + | [[Category:Science]] | |
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Revision as of 03:07, June 23, 2007
The Scientific Revolution is a name that some modern historians use to describe what they call the beginning of modern science in the mid-1500s. At that time, according to their theory, scientists began to develop the systematic use of hypotheses, and to continually test them with observation and experimentation. Their best example is Copernicus publishing the heliocentric theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun, as opposed to the geocentric theory that Sun revolves around the Earth.[1]
In fact, Copernicus had no observations or experiments to show that his model was better than others, and his methods were not significantly more scientific that those that had been in use older cosmological models for over a thousand years. There was no intellectual revolution in the sense of a profound change in intellectual thought. The progress of science has been gradual and continuous.
The whole idea of the Scientific Revolution appears to be driven in part by some terminological confusion. Copernicus's famous book was titled De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). His name was long associated with the word "revolution" in the sense of planetary motion, not in the sense of an intellectual revolution.
Influence of Religion
An 1867 article in the church-oriented Contemporary Review uses the phrase, while making the point that the scientific revolution was not only not, as often implied, an opposition to religion, but was in fact largely the work of the clergy. The author suggests that "Galileo, the layman, was himself partly to blaim for the persecution which the churchman, Copernicus avoided." He then continues:
- Let us mark down, for instance, the names of churchmen as they come before us in the history of the scientific revolution which lies parallel to the Reformation. As far back as the twelfth century, the great mystical theologian, Richard of St. Victor, described the true method of physical inquiry... Raymond Lully became a Franciscan missionary. Roger Bacon has all but lost his title of Doctor mirabilis under the designation of Franciscan friar. Cusanus was a cardinal.... Copernicus passed over from medicine to the Church, and spent much of his life as a cathedral canon. It is the same in every branch of intellectual movement. Churchmen are ever foremost in the ranks...[2]
Paradigm Shift
Thomas Kuhn's book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, popularized the term scientific revolution (and paradigm shift) to describe changes in accepted scientific thinking in a particular scientific field brought about by a new theory. Kuhn believed that the changes are not necessarily rational or leading to progress. The Copernican model of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun was one of his best examples.[3]
Notes and references
- ↑ Eg, see http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html
- ↑ Hannah, J (1867), The Attitude of the Clergy Toward Science, The Contemporary Review, 1867, volume IV, p. 7
- ↑ T.S.Kuhn, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", University of Chicago Press, 1962.