Advancement of Science: Revolution, Freedom, and Mechanism

Advancement of Science

The Scientific Revolution

Until now, the doctrine of Aristotle prevailed. From this point forward, a new science emerges, with the primary objective of dominating nature. This period will be known as the Scientific Revolution. Initiated in the Renaissance, the main figures are Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Francis Bacon.

Copernicus (1473-1543)

Of Polish origin, Copernicus showed great interest in astronomy and intellectual activity in Italy. In 1530, he presented his theory of heliocentrism, publishing it in 1543, shortly before his death. This theory was greatly influenced by the writings of Aristarchus of Samos, who had previously defended a similar idea.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Francis Bacon is one of the most important thinkers of his time, with an empiricist mindset. He trusts in the ability of human knowledge to dominate nature. He proposed a major project that aimed to compile all traditional knowledge of the time. A critic, he criticized the Sophists for the inadequacy of their dialectics. He advocates for the inductive method and develops a new political utopia, which he calls the New Atlantis.

Kepler (1571-1630)

Kepler was a proponent of heliocentrism and regretted not having discovered that all celestial motions are circular and uniform.

Galileo (1564-1642)

Born in Pisa, Galileo began medical studies but neglected them to engage in mathematical research. He supported the heliocentric theory and was summoned to Rome. After a long process, at the age of 70, he was required to renounce Copernicus' ideas and withdraw from teaching. He was also prohibited from publishing his theories. In his retreat, he continued research on his heliocentric theory and described the experimental method, which is divided into three steps:

1. The nature of this picked up by a harmony matematica.
2. Formulating hipotesis.
3. The test or experimental resolution.

Freedom and Mechanism

Descartes' anthropological dualism of body and soul opens many questions and resigns itself to a more unitary view like Aristotle. Platonic dualism becomes afraid to defend the freedom of man. The body is matter and is governed by mechanical laws that determine it, to the point that body behavior could be expressed by means of deterministic mechanical laws. If I was thinking that a substance linked to the body could not Scots freedom, freedom of the qe is something we can not doubt, because we are free because we dudar.El qe thinking self is a substance never qe can not submit the mechanical and deterministic laws cuerpo.Este mechanism, the body mechanism has positive and negative implications qe opens us to understand the body as a machine qe can be disassembled and opens us to the possibilities and the problem disecciones.El consider nature as something qe manipular.Nos can find a disrespectful attitude to nature.