Scientific revolution began during the Age of Enlightenment in the seventeenth century. The revolution was catalyzed by a philosophy that believed in humanity to change rather than traditional dogmas and doctrines. Many economies in Europe moved away from agrarian practices to urbanization. During this period, Enlightenment thinkers like Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei proposed theories and ideas derived from human experience and observations (Burns, 2003).
Optimism characterized the scientific revolution in the Age of Enlightenment. There was a general feeling that humanity was capable of changing the world, hence rectifying mistakes of the past. Galileo’s engagement in the fields of inertia and physics became groundbreaking. Kepler’s study of planetary motion disclosed that planets move in elliptical orbits. Newton started his career in mathematics, specializing in the field of calculus. He later conducted several experiments in math and physics and came up with numerous laws. This included the discovery of the force of gravity, diffraction of light, and the three laws of motion (Burns, 2003).
Isaac Newton demonstrates diffraction of light.
The scientific revolution saw the publications of several journals that gave an in-depth perspective on science and related scientific studies. Some of the publications included “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” by John Locke and Isaac Newton’s “Principia Mathematica”. In this book, Newton gives an overview of his discoveries on celestial and terrestrial mechanics. Scientists across the universe agree that this book by Newton is one of the utmost milestones in science history. Newton provided an explanation for gravitational pull and the motions of comets, planets among other bodies. The first chapter of Principia deals with the dynamics of the three laws of motion. Newton also inculcated Kepler’s laws in explanation of gravitational pull (Pask, 2013).
References
Burns, W. E. (2003). Science in the enlightenment: An encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.: ABC-Clio.http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton/newton5.jpg
Pask, C. (2013). Magnificent Principia: Exploring Isaac Newton's masterpiece.
