Europe’s Scientific Revolution: The Triumph of Reason

Humankind’s quest for knowledge has often been a battle between faith and reason. This article explores the tumultuous journey of scientific development in Europe, from the suppression of logical thought to its triumphant revival during the Renaissance, focusing on the scientific revolution and the triumph of reason.

Table of Contents:

The Dark Age of Science: When Reason Was Obscured

The Eclipse of Reason

Following the era of great thinkers like Aristotle (Read our previous article where Aristotle and his curiosities are discussed), Europe experienced a decline in scientific inquiry. Religion took precedence, overshadowing rational explanations of the world. Scientific thinking slowed significantly.

It was as if the light of reason had been dimmed by the shadows of dogma. Was Europe entering a dark age of scientific thought?

The Church’s Dominance

The Church’s influence grew, leading to the suppression of scientific ideas that contradicted religious dogma. This created an environment where questioning established beliefs was dangerous. Dissenting voices were silenced, and intellectual progress was stifled.

Roger Bacon’s Vision

Despite the prevailing anti-scientific sentiment, individuals like Roger Bacon, also known as Doctor Mirabilis, foresaw the future of science. In 1229, he predicted the invention of machines that could travel without horses, fly through the air, and telescopes that would bring distant stars closer. His insights were remarkably prescient, given the limited scientific knowledge of his time.

“Science could create machines that allow us to travel without horses, fly and bring stars closer”

– Roger Bacon

The Dawn of Revival: Seeds of Scientific Revolution

Amidst the suppression, glimmers of hope emerged, setting the stage for a dramatic shift in intellectual thought. The seeds of the scientific revolution were being sown, nurtured by a renewed thirst for knowledge and understanding.

Universities as Centres of Learning

Despite the restrictions, universities like the University of Paris remained important centers of learning. However, even these institutions faced pressure from the Church, as seen in the banning of Aristotle’s books.

These universities served as flickering candles in the darkness, preserving the flame of knowledge. Could these centres of learning spark a revival of reason?

The Power of the Printing Press

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg revolutionised communication. It made books more accessible and affordable, democratizing knowledge and fueling intellectual curiosity. As Charles Babbage, the inventor of the computing machine, noted, the modern world began with the printing press.

“The beginning of the modern world can be attributed to the printing press”

– Charles Babbage

The Rise of Literacy

With the increased availability of books, literacy rates rose, encouraging people to read, learn, and express their own ideas. This intellectual awakening laid the groundwork for the scientific revolution. It was like planting seeds in fertile ground, waiting for them to sprout and blossom.

The Copernican Revolution: A New Understanding of the Cosmos

Nicolaus Copernicus: A New Perspective

Nicolaus Copernicus, born into a prosperous family, challenged the geocentric model of the universe. Inspired by the works of Aristarchus, he proposed a heliocentric model, placing the Sun at the center of the solar system.

Challenging the Established Order

Copernicus’s theory contradicted the teachings of Aristotle and the Church, which held that the Earth was the center of the universe. This sparked controversy and resistance from those who clung to traditional beliefs.

The Heliocentric Model

Copernicus’s heliocentric model revolutionised astronomy. He concluded that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, the Earth rotates once daily on its axis, and that the Earth is just another planet. This provided a more accurate explanation of celestial movements and planetary behaviour.

Copernicus’s key conclusions:

• The Sun, not the Earth, is at the centre of the solar system.
• Earth revolves around the Sun in one year.
• The universe is vast.
• Earth is just one of many planets.

Galileo Galilei: Champion of Science

Early Life and Education

Galileo Galilei, born in Italy, received a Jesuit education, studying Latin, Greek, natural philosophy, and mathematics. Although his father wanted him to become a doctor, Galileo’s passion lay in mathematics and science.

The Pendulum Experiment

Inspired by the swinging chandelier in the Cathedral of Pisa, Galileo discovered that the time it takes for a pendulum to swing back and forth remains constant, regardless of the arc’s size. This led him to invent a pendulum clock, revolutionizing timekeeping.

Challenging Aristotle’s Physics

Galileo challenged Aristotle’s assertion that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. Through experiments conducted at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, he demonstrated that objects of different weights fall at the same rate, disproving Aristotle’s long-held belief. This was later validated during the Apollo 15 mission on the Moon.

Galileo’s Discoveries with the Telescope

Building His Own Telescope

Hearing about the invention of the telescope in the Netherlands, Galileo built his own, improving its magnification. This allowed him to make groundbreaking observations of the heavens.

Lunar Observations

Galileo observed that the Moon was not a smooth, perfect sphere as previously believed, but had craters and mountains. This challenged the prevailing view of celestial bodies as flawless and unchanging.

Discovering Jupiter’s Moons

Galileo discovered four celestial bodies orbiting Jupiter, which he correctly identified as moons. This provided further evidence against the geocentric model, as it showed that not everything revolved around the Earth.

Sunspots and the Sun’s Rotation

Galileo observed sunspots, dark patches on the Sun’s surface, and noted that they moved, indicating that the Sun rotated on its axis. This discovery further challenged the idea of an unchanging, perfect cosmos.

Conflict with the Church: The Price of Scientific Progress

The Fate of Giordano Bruno

The execution of Giordano Bruno for heresy cast a shadow over scientific inquiry. Bruno’s belief in an infinite universe and other ideas that contradicted Church doctrine led to his being burned at the stake in 1600.

Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems

Galileo’s book, “Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems”, presented arguments for both the geocentric and heliocentric models but was widely interpreted as favoring the latter. This led to his summons by the Roman Inquisition.

Trial and Recantation

In 1633, Galileo was put on trial for heresy. Under threat of torture, he recanted his support for the heliocentric theory, stating that the Earth was stationary. Despite his recantation, he was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life. Legend has it that after his recantation, Galileo muttered “Eppur si muove”, meaning “And yet it moves”.

Legacy of the Scientific Revolution: The Triumph of Reason

Galileo’s Enduring Contributions

Despite the persecution he faced, Galileo made lasting contributions to science. He developed the law of uniform accelerated motion (Velocity = Acceleration x Time) and the law of inertia, which states that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

The Triumph of Reason

The scientific revolution marked a turning point in human history, paving the way for modern science and technology. It demonstrated the power of observation, experimentation, and mathematical reasoning to unlock the secrets of the universe. Galileo’s work challenged the dominance of religion, leading to the triumph of reason.

Science Beyond Observations

Science moved beyond solely relying on observations. Experiments propelled humans forward, leading to significant advancements.

What Can You Do to Embrace the Spirit of Scientific Inquiry?

Embrace curiosity, question assumptions, and seek evidence-based answers. Support scientific education and research to foster a culture of innovation and discovery. By doing so, you contribute to the ongoing triumph of reason and the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Disclaimer:

• Renaissance: A period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, characterized by a renewed interest in classical art, literature, and science.
• Aristotelian physics: The theories of physics expounded by Aristotle, which were the main source of scientific knowledge in Europe until the scientific revolution.
• Heliocentric model: The astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun.
• Geocentric model: The astronomical model in which the Earth is the centre of the universe, and the Sun, Moon, and planets revolve around it.
• Roman Inquisition: A series of tribunals and prosecuting bodies established by the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church during the second half of the sixteenth century to combat heresy.
• Law of inertia: A physical law that states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

Read more about how Rationality led to Modern Science and Maths.

Watch the video here.