Week 3 Lesson Intellectual Revolution

Module 2a - Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society
Overview:
Revolution is a fundamental change of perspective or view ("Definition of

REVOLUTION", n.d.). This involves paradigm shifting.
Objectives:
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
1. know how ideas of Copernicus, Darwin, and Freud inspired the spark of
scientific revolution;
2. trace the evolution of computers from its simple beginnings to its present and
various forms;
3. articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology.
Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society: Copernicus
Astronomy before Copernicus
Uses of Astronomy
 To tell time
 To determine the seasons
 Calendars
 Navigation
 Predict the future (eclipses & rainfall)
Greek Science
Greeks did not rely on supernatural explanations. They used mathematics, logic,
and reasoning in matters of astronomy. They also developed scientific models to
explain the heavens. There are a lot of pieces that can be traced back to ancient
Mesopotamia like how we record stars’ locations.
The Egyptians were interested as well. The pyramids are built to line up with the
stars, and their religion often revolves around astronomical objects.
Unfortunately, much of Greek knowledge was lost with the burning of the Library at
Alexandria.
Arabic Science
Arabic science has influences from China, India, and Greece. They continued to
develop math and astronomy, even when Europe fell into the Dark Ages. Aside from
that, Algebra and the concept of the algorithm were developed. Many stars were Arabic
names, typically those that has “al-” in it, example: Alberio and Algol.
Greeks and Planets
Aristotelian Model
Aristotle believed that everything in the universe

should be perfect and that the universe was that of a
Geocentric (Earth-centered) model. He believed that
a phenomenon occurs because of its purpose rather
than of the cause by which they arise. His model
was simplistic, wherein there were concentric orbs,
all have natural, fixed, uniform, circular motion.
Image 1. Aristotlian model
Ptolemaic Model
Ptolemaic model was still geocentric. He laid a mathematical model that explained his
observations. He explained the retrograde motion of planets. In Ptolemaic model,
smaller circles called epicycles more around bigger circles called the deferent. Epicycle
is smaller circle that planet is on. Earth is not quite at the center and the Equant sat
opposite of the Earth. Ptolemy’s mathematical model and observations was so
compelling even when Copernicus had presented heliocentric model, Ptolemy’s was
used because it has higher predictive power. Thus, it was used for 1500 years.
Image 2. Ptolemaic model

Copernican Revolution
There were the Renaissance scholars who were uncovering other Greek authors
who contradicted Aristotle. This was unsettling, since these scholars had a reverence
for all ancient knowledge as being nearly infallible. However, finding contradicting
authorities forced the Renaissance scholars to try to figure out which ones were right.
When their findings showed that neither theory was right, they had to think for
themselves and find a new theory that worked. This encouraged skepticism,
freethinking, and experimentation, all of which are essential parts of modern science.
Nicolaus Copernicus
The idea of heliocentrism (planets orbit the sun) is much older; it can be traced to
Aristarchus of Samos, a Hellenistic author writing in the 3rd century BC, who may in
turn have been drawing on even older concepts in and accepted in Aristotelianism.
The Copernican model makes the claim of describing the physical reality of the
cosmos, something which the Ptolemaic model was no longer believed to be able to
provide. Copernicus removed Earth from the center of the universe, set the heavenly
bodies in rotation around the Sun, and introduced Earth's daily rotatiPythagoreanism.
Ancient heliocentrism was, however, eclipsed by the geocentric model presented by
Ptolemy on on its axis. While Copernicus's work sparked the "Copernican Revolution",
it did not mark its end. In fact, Copernicus's own system had multiple shortcomings that
would have to be amended and explained by later astronomers like Kepler and Galileo.
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
Tycho admired Copernicus but he was unable to harmonize Copernicus’ model to

the basic laws of Aristotelian physics. As he had passion for empirical facts, he saw
that Copernicus’ model have a high margin of error. To reconcile, he proposed a
"geo-heliocentric" system in which the Sun and Moon orbited the Earth, while the other
planets orbited the Sun. This idea provided a safe position for astronomers who were
dissatisfied with older models but were reluctant to accept heliocentrism. Other
astronomers tried to convince Tycho to adopt the heliocentric model of the Solar
System but the idea of a rotating and revolving Earth would be sacrilegious to the
authority of the Holy Scripture.
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
His work aimed to make astrology “more certain” by basing it on new physical and
harmonic principles. After Tycho’s death, Kepler used Tycho’s data to back up his solar
hypothesis. He discovered three laws of planetary motion.
Three laws of planetary motion:
o the planets revolve in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus;
o the time needed to traverse any arc of a planetary orbit is proportional to the area
of the sector between the central body and that arc (“area law”);
o there is an exact relationship between the squares of the planets’ periodic times
and the cubes of the radii of their orbits (“harmonic law”).
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Galileo has been called the “Father of Observational Astronomy”. Unlike the popular
belief, he was not the one who invented the telescope, rather he improved it. He
championed heliocentrism based on his astronomical observations. When his critics
confronted him with biblical objections to the motion of the Earth, he argued that
heliocentrism was not contrary to biblical texts, and that the Bible was an authority on
faith and morals, not science.
Galileo’s writings on heliocentrism had him accused of attempting to reinterpret the

Bible. In spite of controversy, he championed the Copernican model and gathered
evidence to support it.
Activity 03 - Intellectual revolutions that defined society:
Copernicus
Instructions: Write your answers on a separate piece of paper
A. Complete a table like the one below by writing five ancient beliefs/practices in
Astronomy, and their modern-day theory or explanation. An italized example is
provided below. (10 points)
Ancient beliefs and practices in Modern-day theory or explanation

Astronomy
E.g. Planets revolve around the Earth. All planets, including Earth,
revolves around the sun.
B. Choose ONE of the questions below and explain within 100-150 words.
Please do not forget to COPY the question you have chosen. (5 points)
1. Although we now know that Earth is the center of the universe/solar
system (geocentricm), what were the factors that made people believe this
for 1500 years?
2. What were the hurdles of the early beginnings of heliocentricism?
3. How were the people behind heliocentrism able to convince the public about it?

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Module 2a - Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society

Revolution is a fundamental change of perspective or view ("Definition of

After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society: Copernicus

Astronomy before Copernicus

Greeks and Planets

Aristotle believed that everything in the universe

Image 1. Aristotlian model

Image 2. Ptolemaic model

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

Tycho admired Copernicus but he was unable to harmonize Copernicus’ model to

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

Galileo’s writings on heliocentrism had him accused of attempting to reinterpret the

Instructions: Write your answers on a separate piece of paper

Ancient beliefs and practices in Modern-day theory or explanation

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