The Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution• The basic characters 1. All knowledge are based on their own knowledge. - They reject the old traditional thinking. (“dare to know”)

2. The greatest knowledge is useful knowledge.3. The universe system is based on the natural law. (a mechanical clock)

Outstanding Thinkers1. Sir Francis Bacon Bacon argued that truth could not be known at the beginning of a question, but only at the end after a long process of investigation.

Novum Organum (New Instrument) - New method to prove all knowledge is empirical experiment (real experience) or scientific method. The way to observe is called ‘inductive method’. (from particular to general knowledge)

Bacon’s methods1. Recording of empirical experiments2. Collection of other scientists’ researches3. Production of useful knowledge

2. Rene Descartes (French philosopher, rationalist and mathematician)• Discourse on Method - Mathematics is the perfect model for clear and correct knowledge.

René Descartes • Descartes emphasized human reasoning as the best road to understanding. • Like Bacon, Descartes also believed that truth was only found after a long process of studying and investigation.

3. Sir Isaac Newton (the greatest scientist of this period)• He discovers the knowledge of calculus.• Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) : The law of universal gravitation

Newton • He used math to prove the existence of gravity - a force that kept planets in their orbits around the sun, and also caused objects to fall towards the earth.