AP Euro Chap 6 & 7 Review Questions
A) What did Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton each contribute to the scientific revolution? B) Which do you think made the most important contributions and why? C) What did Francis Bacon contribute to the foundation of scientific thought?
A) Copernicus came up with the theory of the Helocentric universe which means the sun is in the center of the universe. The universally accepted theory of the time was the Ptolemaic model which was geocentric (earth was the center of the universe). This allowed others to look in new directions in astronomy. Brahe contributed a vast amount of data that he took using his naked eye. Kepler took Brahe's data and proved that the planets moved in elliptical orbits instead of circular orbits. Galileo was the first to use the telescope for astronomy. With his telescope he noticed sunspots, that the moon was not an orb of light, new stars, and Jupiter's moons. He also helped popularize Copernicus's helocentric theory. Newton contributed The Principia (1687) which explained gravity and why the planets moved the way they did. B) Galileo made the most important contributions because all the other scientists mentioned above only came up with little information that was not known or at least mentioned by Ptolemy. Galileo began using the telescope for astronomy and scientists still use telescopes today. With this telescope he noticed mountains and craters on the moon which proved it was not an orb of light. He also found new stars that can not be seen with the naked eye. On top of that he even saw that Jupiter had numerous moons and different phases of Venus. In his works like Starry Messenger (1610), he explained how his discoveries called for a heliocentric universe. He also expressed the need for math and his works are still referred to today. Newton also contributed a lot as well however he was able to use the information Galileo proved and discovered to come up with his theories. C) Francis Bacon was the father of the scientific method and empiricism. The scientific method is the foundation of many experiments done. Empiricism the belief that one must observe phenomena before explaining it. This means things should be experimented with and tested before coming up with theories or hypotheses. This is inductive reasoning (specific to general). He also convinced government to fund science because the more scientific knowledge, the more power the government has. He also connected science to material progress and improvement in people's lives.
A) Why did the Catholic Church condemn Galileo? B) How did Pascal seek to reconcile faith and reason? C) How did English natural theology support economic expansion
A) Galileo, one of the greatest scientists and mathematicians to ever live, had all of his works banned by the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church believed they were 'heretical' because the Catholic Church believed in a geocentric universe while Galileo believed in a heliocentric universe. In Catholicism, people are God's masterpiece so therefore should be the center of the universe. When Galileo challenged the Ptolemaic universe, he challenged the authority of the church. People began to question whether God even loved them. Galileo also published how he felt the Bible should be interpreted which challenged the authority of the church because in Catholicism, only the clergy could interpret the Bible. In 1616 the Copernican universe was banned and then in 1633, Galileo was forced to recant his works. His works were banned until 1992 where the Church finally admitted its mistake.
A) How would you define the term scientific revolution? B) In what ways was it truly revolutionary? C) Which is more enduring, a political revolution or an intellectual one?
A) The Scientific Revolution is brought the emergence of modern science and changed the world's view of nature. It is a major turning point that brought the beginning of secularization to the world. Before the scientific revolution, many people still lived like they did in the Medieval Age while after the scientific revolution, life became more modern. Scientific revolution refers to a change in society and scientific thought because of new discoveries in physics, astronomy, and mathematics. B) The Scientific Revolution was truly revolutionary because it began secularization, challenged the Church, changed scientific thought and the world's view of nature. During the scientific revolution the sun became the center of the universe in the heliocentric universe which made people question their faith. The Catholic Church believed in the geocentric universe because mankind is God's masterpiece and therefore should be the center of the universe. Math and science also began to question if God is real because they did not have any physical proof. Hardcore empiricists who never experienced God did not believe. This change is revolutionary because the religion had been the standard for centuries and now math and science began to take over. It also changed the world's view of nature as gravity, the heliocentric universe, and more was discovered. C) An intellectual revolution is more long-lasting. This is because knowledge is harder to contain once it spreads. An intellectual revolution changes people's actual view of the earth and can make people question their beliefs. Knowledge lasts while politics often change. A political revolution changes how governments are run however there are always conflicting political systems. Government control also changes quite often due to revolutionary wars and revolts. For example, the scientific revolution changed the view of nature, made people question the Catholic Church, and created an entire new domain of science and reason. It effected people on a day to day basis with institutions like scientific academies. The political revolution during this time with leaders like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke may not have effected as many people on a day to day basis.
A) What were the differences between the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke? B) How did each view human nature? C) Would you rather live under a government designed by Hobbes or by Locke? Why?
A) Thomas Hobbes and John Locke disagreed with the "contract" citizens made with the government. Thomas Hobbes wrote The Leviathan (1651) where he states there must be an absolute monarch that citizens knowingly make an absolute and irrevocable contract with because only an absolute monarch can protect people from themselves. Locke disagrees in his work the Two Treatises of Government which state that people make a breakable contract with a limited monarchy if their rights are not being protected by the government. A major part of his political philosophy is his belief that man has rights in his property and property in his rights. He believes people have three basic rights: life, liberty, and property. Because of these rights, the people may break the contract if needed. B) Thomas Hobbes and John Locke also disagree on human nature. Hobbes believes people are inherently evil. He once said, "human life is "nasty, solitary, and brutishly short." This barbaric view of society is the reason he believes in his political government. He believes an absolute monarch is needed to control the people and work in their bet interest. Locke on the other hand, believes in tabula rasa. Tabula rasa means blank slate. He believes people are inherently good and that outside factors such as environment corrupt a person. This belief can conflict with the Catholic Church because Catholics believe in Original Sin which people are born with. C) I would like to live under a government designed by John Locke because I think the contract with government should be breakable if needed and that people are born with natural rights. If a government is corrupt and violates the inherent rights of the people, I think citizens should have the option to remove the leader and replace him/her. I would not like to be bound under a government that suppresses its citizens. I also agree that people have the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights should not be taken away. Everyone has the right to live and not be killed; everyone deserves to be free; and everyone has the right to have private property.
