E-Book Overview
Designed as an introduction to the age of the scientific revolution, this book offers readers and researchers an appealing mix of narrative chapters, biographical sketches of key figures, and annotated primary documents. An overview of the period introduces the topic, and is followed by chapters on Astronomy and the Cosmos; Matter, Motion and the Cosmos; The Nature of Living Things; New Methods for the Advancement of Knowledge; Religion and Natural Philosophy; and the Influence of the Scientific Revolution.
The Scientific Revolution and the Foundations of Modern Science explains how the pursuit of natural philosophy— as science was then called—from about 1500 to 1700 created the foundation upon which modern science has been built. The profound changes in the study of the natural world in this period was made possible by social and cultural changes occurring Western Europe, and the achievements of men like Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Frances Bacon, Rene Descartes, William Harvey, and Isaac Newton. This book details their ideas and practices, as well as those of others, the concepts they overcame, and the nature of the institutions within which they worked.
E-Book Content
The Scientific Revolution and the Foundations of Modern Science Wilbur Applebaum
Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey, Series Editors
GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Applebaum, Wilbur. The scientific revolution and the foundations of modern science / Wilbur Applebaum. p. cm—(Greenwood guides to historic events, 1500–1900, ISSN 1538–442X) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–32314–3 (alk. paper) 1. Science—History. 2. Science, Renaissance. I. Title. II. Series Q125.A54 2005 509.4'09'031—dc22 2004027859 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2005 by Wilbur Applebaum All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004027859 ISBN: 0–313–32314–3 ISSN: 1538–442X First published in 2005 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America TM
The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Ariel, Max, and Benjamin
CONTENTS
Illustrations
ix
Series Foreword by Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey
xi
Introduction
xv
Chronology of Events
xvii
Chapter 1
Historical Overview
1
Chapter 2
Astronomy and the Cosmos
19
Chapter 3
Matter, Motion, and the Mathematical Sciences
39
Chapter 4
The Nature of Living Things
63
Chapter 5
New Methods for the Advancement of Knowledge
85
Chapter 6
Religion and Natural Philosophy
105
Chapter 7
Influence of the Scientific Revolution
121
Biographies
131
Primary Documents
165
Glossary
217
Annotated Bibliography
221
Index
237
ILLUSTRATIONS
2.1.
The Sun revolves uniformly
21
2.2. Angle a at the equant
22
2.3. A star’s different angles while the Earth revolves around the Sun
27
2.4. Tycho Brahe seated among his instruments and assistants at Uraniborg
28
2.5. Thomas Digges’ diagram of the stars
30
2.6. Th