Scientific revolution

Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution is a period in history that marked a series of developments in the sciences, which drastically changed the way we understand the natural world. It is typically considered to have taken place from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.

Pronunciation

/ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/

Etymology

The term "Scientific Revolution" is derived from the Latin words 'Scientia' meaning 'knowledge' and 'Revolutio' meaning 'a turn around'. It refers to the period in history when the structure of scientific knowledge underwent dramatic changes.

Related Terms

Overview

The Scientific Revolution was a series of events that marked the emergence of modern science during the early modern period, when developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology (including human anatomy) and chemistry transformed the views of society about nature. The Scientific Revolution is traditionally held to have begun in 1543, the year in which Nicolaus Copernicus published his book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) and Andreas Vesalius published his book on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human body).

Impact

The Scientific Revolution significantly influenced the intellectual and philosophical landscape of the Western world. It led to the establishment of the Scientific Method, which is a systematic way of learning about the world that relies on empirical evidence and the use of reason. The Scientific Revolution also led to the development of a new worldview that placed a greater emphasis on reason and empirical evidence, which was a significant departure from the traditional views that were dominated by religion and superstition.

Key Figures

Key figures of the Scientific Revolution include Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Rene Descartes, and Isaac Newton. Their contributions to their respective fields and the development of the Scientific Method significantly influenced the course of the Scientific Revolution.

Scientific revolution

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