Scientific Revolution

Scientific Revolution

Question One: What is scientific revolution?

Scientific revolution is a historical period in the 15^th, 17^th, and 18^th centuries that was characterized by the shift to experimental thought system from philosophical perspectives. The period saw the emergence of rationality, truth, and relativism in the definition of reality (Onyekachi, 2017). Authors like Auguste Comte, Isaac Newton, and Rudolf Carnap contributed significantly to the growth of science during this period. The period saw the validation of scientific claims in the construction of theoretical structures that ultimately preferred empirical data. The term revolution emanates from an old Latin word ‘revolution’ which means to roll back. It implies a re-establishment of the old order for new concepts. Theories in this revolution were justified and dismissed based on rationality based on available data.

The scientific revolution was a shift of focus in defining matter based on empiricism. Before this period, reality was defined based on unsubstantiated philosophy. Society previously relied on the content of scientific beliefs for their justification to a focus on their veritability. The scientific revolution saw the shift from the Aristotelean approach towards nature to a unified system of logical comprehension of reality based on truth and objectivity. Facts in life had to obtained justification through rational methods (Onyekachi, 2017). Empirical science took the center-stage, and every theory developed during this period pointed towards more truth than theory. The ideas developed during this period significantly influenced the growth in religious, political, and cultural concepts towards more objectivity. The birth of scientific knowledge in society was a process defined by Immanuel Kant as ‘groping in the dark’ and thus unsatisfactory in proving phenomenon. Humanity could now understand reality through testable methods that sought to establish the truth. The period was indeed a revolution because it changed the interpretation of reality from stray observation to active interrogation of knowledge.

Question Two: Social Contract, John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

Both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes defined the evolution of society based on social contract theory. The theory explains early society as based on man’s dependence on the state of nature. There was no government and no law to guide the activities of man during this period. However, man experienced oppression and hardship, and therefore, two agreements were developed, which were pact of unions and covenant of subjections (Laskar, 2013). The bond of unions helped man to protect lives and property while the agreement of subjections helped humanity live in harmony with respect for each other.

The approaches to the state of man following the social contract theory differed based on Hobbesian and Locke’s method. Hobbes opined that man voluntarily surrendered his sovereignty to the mightiest authority that was to protect their lives and property (Laskar, 2013). In this regard, he promoted the concept of absolutism in defining society where man must surrender his rights and liberties to an all-powerful government. John Locke saw the state of nature before the social contract as desirable where goodwill and mutual assistance were accomplished (Laskar, 2013). Locke, however, saw property in the state of nature as insecure because of the absence of law, the non-existence of an impartial judge, and the lack of power to execute natural laws.

John Locke’s approach defines a more favorable society that Hobbes. Locke proposes that governments are desirable as they do not thrive in the surrender of every individual right, as recommended by Hobbes. In a society defined by John Locke, individuals live in dignity as they retain specific rights that are considered natural and inalienable. Locke’s society, therefore, tends towards social justice in governance while Hobbes society thrives in absolutism and surrender of individual rights to the government.

Question Three: Pascal, Faith and Reason

Pascal made his contribution to the understanding of faith and reason in the Christian religion. He attempted to provide a solution to the challenges faced by Christians in his day. The comprehension of the Christian faith can be comprehended both from the humanist perspective and the development perspective. Pascal proposed that the understanding of the supernatural derived from revelation rather than through natural knowledge based on science (Robbins, 2015). Society had grown from a philosophical defiality to empiricism, but Pascal proposed that such mechanics were insufficient in understanding the supernatural.

Pascal was influenced by the Jensen sect that proposed that sinners couldn’t contribute to their salvation through good works. He postulated that grace was enough and necessary to cleanse humanity of their sins and qualify them for redemption. According to him, forgiveness is not a continuous constant and can be withdrawn by God. He also proposed that God could not be compelled to save or punish anyone (Robbins, 2015). He envisioned God as omnipotent and bearing the power to save or judge any person. Through his ideas, Pascal promoted the concept of justification by faith as a departure from the dominant empiricism in society. He saw the advance of human knowledge as limited and absolute understanding of divinity through logical means as limiting.

Nevertheless, he managed to convince agnostics to embrace the Christian faith by claiming that it was not contrary to reason (Robbins, 2015). Pascal’s doctrine was defined by a balance in the commitment to faith and the pursuit of secular endeavors. Through his ideas, Pascal successfully integrated his faith and life. Although he subscribed to the Jansenist doctrine on grace and original sin, Pascal was opposed to the dominant view that humanism was contrary to the practice of devout Christianity. In his faith practice, he integrated faith with the everyday pursuits of life. He gave hope to agnostics and lukewarm Christians that they could still practice their Christian faith without holding extreme religious philosophy.

Question Four

Different scholars in the scientific revolution including Kepler, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Brahe and Galileo made significant contributions. Kepler developed a theoretical postulation that defined the physical improbability of immaterial things. He opined that planetary motion was circular and observed that this was only possible because of hypothetical comprehension of motion. Galileo made his contribution to physics by proposing that planets revolved around the sun in cyclical orbits. His theory however failed to define the nature of planets in the universe and the nature of motion they had (Materlakes.org. 2017). Galileo made significant discoveries including the presence of mountains on the earth’s moon and the four moons that revolved around the Jupiter.

Copernicus was a mathematician and defined the universe as centered around the sun. He opined that the sun was the center of the universe and observed that planets revolved around this planet. He however, made an exception of the moon, which he proposed as revolving around the earth (Materlakes.org. 2017). His views were challenged by Johannes Kepler, who saw the movement of the planets around the sun as taking an elliptical rather than a circular motion. According to Kepler, the sun occupied the end of the orbit rather than the center as proposed by Copernicus (Materlakes.org. 2017). Newton made groundbreaking discoveries about the laws of motion that influenced planetary activity. He is famed for the law of gravity and proposed that the planets moved in a circular motion.

Although the different scholars made a significant contribution to the empirical understanding of reality, Newton’s ideas have been the most influential. Newton successfully achieved an explanation of the forces behind the movement of planets and made a basis for innovations in air travel in modern times. Newton not only proposed the evolution of the planets but proved that there was a force that maintained this motion around the sun. The theory gained support from other discoveries and influenced modern-day innovations like air travel.

References

Laskar, M. (2013). Summary of social contract theory by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Locke and Rousseau (April 4, 2013).

Materlakes.org. (2017). Causes of the scientific Revolution.  Accessed 10^th March 2020 from https://www.materlakes.org/ourpages/auto/2017/2/3/49206473/Scientific%20Revolution.pdf

Onyekachi Nnaji, J. (2017). Concepts of the’Scientific Revolution’: An analysis of the historiographical appraisal of the traditional claims of the science.

Robbins, C. W. (2015). Pascal and the therapy of faith (Doctoral dissertation, University of York).