Essay on Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment of the 16th and 17th centuries revolutionized thought and learning. The scientific revolution was a new way of thinking about the natural world from analyzing and questioning accepted beliefs. These new discoveries on scientific theories caused confliction between religion, but it also brought improvement into instrumental inventions, medicine and chemistry. As these new discoveries were being spread throughout the world, many philosophers admired how the scientist’s way of reasoning was in order to explain the laws governing nature. In the mid-1700’s people began to look for laws governing human behavior as well. This led to a new movement involving change to all aspects of society known as, the Enlightenment. Governments aided scientists by supporting them financially and funding their research, while others would reject scientific findings that conflicted with their authority.

By the late Middle Ages Europe advanced dramatically in terms of scientific development. The old views of physics and astronomy had changed, and new ideas were created. For example, Isaac Newton had discovered the law of gravity which disproved many of the original theories stated by Aristotle. Many scientists also helped further observe nature by creating specific and highly useful scientific tools. Gabriel Fahrenheit made the first thermometer to use mercury in glass, and the first mercury barometer (a tool for measuring atmospheric pressure and predicting weather) was invented by, Evangelista Torricelli.

Although these scientists escaped the disproval of many protestant and catholic churches, the first scientist to publicize his discoveries was not that lucky. Protestant and catholic leaders threatened the scientist, Galileo Galilei not to announce his discoveries or else they will punish him. His many ideas proved Nicolaus Copernicus’s heliocentric theories to be correct, and all these ideas contradicted the teachings and authorities of...