LECTURE 2 Intellectual Revolutions That Defined Society
LECTURE 2 Intellectual Revolutions That Defined Society
LECTURE 2 Intellectual Revolutions That Defined Society
REVOLUTIONS THAT
DEFINED SOCIETY
STS : CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION
There were the Renaissance scholars who were uncovering other Greek authors who
contradicted Aristotle. This was unsettling, since these scholars had a reverence for all
ancient knowledge as being nearly infallible. However, finding contradicting authorities
forced the Renaissance scholars to try to figure out which ones were right. When their
findings showed that neither theory was right, they had to think for themselves and find
a new theory that worked. This encouraged skepticism, freethinking, and
experimentation, all of which are essential parts of modern science.
REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED
SOCIETY: COPERNICAN
REVOLUTION
ARISTOTLE
Image source:atnf.csiro.au
Aristarchus of Samos
• Used eccentric trigonometric measurements to calculate
the relative distances of the sun and moon in the 3rd
century BC.
• He was able to find out that the sun was very large, and
Image from: Ancient History Encyclopedia
this inspired him to suggest that the sun was a more
likely the pivot point for a movement of the universe.
The implications of Newton's theory of gravity can easily escape us, since we
now take it for granted that physical laws apply the same throughout the
universe. To the mentality of the 1600’s, which saw a clear distinction between
the laws governing the terrestrial and celestial elements, it was a staggering
revelation. His three laws of motion were simple, could be applied everywhere,
and could be used with calculus to solve any problems of motion that came up.
The universe that emerged was radically different from that of Aristotle. Thanks to Newton,
it was within our grasp to understand, predict, and increasingly manipulate the laws of the universe
in ways no one had been able to do before. Newton's work also completed the fusion of math
promoted by Renaissance humanists, Aristotelian logic pushed by medieval university professors,
and experiment to test a hypothesis pioneered by such men as Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo into
what we call the scientific method. This fusion had gradually been taking place since the
Renaissance, but the invention of calculus made math a much more dynamic tool in predicting and
manipulating the laws of nature.
The printing of Newton's book, Principia Mathematica, in 1687 is often seen as the
start of the Enlightenment (1687-1789). It was a significant turning point in history, for, armed with
the tools of Newton's laws and calculus, scientists had an unprecedented faith in their ability to
understand, predict, and manipulate the laws of nature for their own purposes. This sense of power
popularized science for other intellectuals and rulers in Europe, turning it into virtual religion for
some in the Enlightenment. Even the geometrically trimmed shrubbery of Versailles offers testimony
to that faith in our power over nature. Not until this century has that faith been seriously
undermined or put into a more realistic perspective.
REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED
SOCIETY: DARWINIAN
REVOLUTION
Philosophers and theologians argued that the functional design of
organisms manifests the existence of an all-wise Creator. Wherever there is
design, there is a designer.
WILLIAM PALEY IN HIS NATURAL THEOLOGY
(1802)
elaborated the argument-from-design as forceful demonstration of the
existence of the Creator.
Image source: en.wikipedia.com
The functional design of the human eye, argued Paley, provided conclusive evidence
of an all-wise Creator.
1. It is consisted of a series of transparent lenses
2. There is a black cloth or canvas spread out behind these lenses so as to receive
the image formed by pencils of light transmitted through them, and placed at
the precise geometrical distance at which, and at which alone, a distinct image
could be formed.
3. a large nerve communicating between this membrane and the brain."
THE BRIDGEWATER TREATISES
• Psychology and psychiatry turned away from the search for organic causes
and toward the search for inner psychic conflicts and early childhood traumas.
• The line between sane and insane was blurred: everyone, according to Freud,
had an Oedipal crisis, and everyone could potentially become mentally ill.
REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED
SOCIETY: SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION IN MESO-
AMERICA
MESO-AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
• The Aztec had their own script and languages but they assimilated all they
could learn from Maya society.
• Their manuscripts describe how the Maya performed their astronomical
observations.
• They manufactured of rubber and used a rubber ball in the ball game tlachtli
• Public latrines were found along all highways, and to prevent pollution of Lake
Texcoco canoes transported the sewage from Tenochtitlán to the mainland
every morning.
OTHER MESO-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS
• cultivated crop plants such as corn (maize), papaya, avocado and cocoa.
• several sculptures found at Meso-American sites in 1975, 1979 and 1983 and
dating back to 2000 -1500 BC have clear magnetic properties, shaped as if it
was used to indicate direction. This suggests that the early Meso-American
civilizations knew about and used magnetism. (Malmström, 1976, 1979)
REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED
SOCIETY: ASIAN
SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION
ASIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
• The general conception is that many of the cutting-edge technological developments, and to a lesser
extent scientific advancements, emanate from Asia.
• Japan is probably the most notable country in Asia in terms of scientific and technological
achievement, particularly in terms of its electronics and automobile products.
• Other countries are also notable in other scientific fields such as chemical and physical achievements.
• Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and China produce 90% of the world’s digital gadgets.
• nations across Asia are becoming increasingly important to the global supply of digital content and
services.
• South Korea’s cultural popularity around the world has caused a number of startup’s to emerge
working within the digital and technology sectors, including website viki.com.
• Taiwan is focused on software and content development.
MIDDLE EAST
• During the 3,000 years of urbanized life in Mesopotamia and Egypt tremendous strides
were made in various branches of science and technology.
• In Mesopotamia, greater progress was made in astronomy and mathematics. The
development of astronomy seems to have been greatly accelerated by that of astrology,
which took the lead among the quasi-sciences involved in divination.
• The Egyptians remained far behind the Babylonians in developing astronomy, but are
more advanced in medicine. Egyptians also took an early lead on engineering and
architecture, owing largely to the stress they laid on the construction of such elaborate
monuments as vast pyramids and temples of granite and sandstone. Whereas, the
Babylonians led in the development of such practical arts as irrigation.
• Both sciences and pseudosciences spread from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Phoenicia
and Anatolia.
MIDDLE EAST