The Scientific Revolution

Samuel Baker
7 min read
Listen to this study note
#🔬 The Scientific Revolution: A Night-Before Review 🚀
Hey there, future AP Euro historian! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident for tomorrow. We're going to break down the Scientific Revolution into bite-sized pieces, focusing on what's most important for the exam. Let's do this!
#💡 New Ideas and Methods
The Scientific Revolution was all about challenging old ideas with new methods based on logic and observation. Think of it as a giant 'fact-check' on the universe! 🧐
-
Individualism and reason fueled this intellectual shift.
-
Scholars began to question classical texts, leading to experimentation.
Key Point: The emphasis shifted from relying on ancient authorities to using empirical observation and logical reasoning.
#The Scientific Method
-
Francis Bacon (1621): Formalized the scientific method – a step-by-step process of hypothesis, testing, and conclusion.
-
Empirical Theory: Knowledge comes from observation and sense-based information.
-
Inductive Reasoning (Bacon): Making generalizations based on limited evidence.
Memory Aid: Bacon = Bottom-up (Inductive) - starts with observations and builds to a conclusion.
-
Rene Descartes (1637): Used the scientific method but emphasized deductive reasoning.
-
Deductive Reasoning: Starts with general principles and applies them to specific cases.
Memory Aid: Descartes = Downward (Deductive) - starts with a general idea and narrows down to specifics.
Common Mistake: Confusing inductive and deductive reasoning. Remember, inductive goes from specific to general, and deductive goes from general to specific.
Example:
- Inductive: "Every swan I've seen is white, therefore all swans are white." (Bacon)
- Deductive: "All birds have feathers. A robin is ...

How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve