The Scientific Revolution (1600s–1700s) was a period when traditional religious and ancient explanations of the universe were replaced by observation, experimentation, and reason.
Empiricism means using evidence from experiments and observation rather than relying only on tradition or authority.
Rationalism stressed that human reason and logic could explain the world and improve society.
Natural laws were principles discovered through science that Enlightenment thinkers believed also applied to human behavior and government.
Thinkers such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton challenged older models of the universe and proved that the world followed predictable, mathematical rules.
These scientific discoveries inspired Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire to apply reason to politics, society, and religion.
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What was the Scientific Revolution?
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Note
The Scientific Revolution was a transformative period in European history that marked a fundamental shift in how people understood the natural world. This era, spanning from the late 16th to the 18th century, saw the emergence of modern science through systematic observation, experimentation, and the application of reason.
Before this period, most knowledge was based on ancient authorities like Aristotle and religious doctrine
The revolution introduced a new way of thinking that emphasized evidence and critical inquiry
Analogy
Think of the Scientific Revolution as the 'software update' for human understanding - it replaced old operating systems (ancient beliefs) with new, evidence-based programs (scientific methods).
Example
Before the Scientific Revolution, people believed the Earth was the center of the universe because ancient authorities said so. Afterward, scientists like Copernicus and Galileo proved through observation that the Earth orbits the Sun.