This document provides an overview of several key figures and developments during the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment. It notes that during this period, people moved away from relying solely on common sense and tradition to explain the world, and instead embraced reason and the scientific method. Specifically, it mentions Copernicus' heliocentric theory, Kepler's laws of planetary motion, Galileo's scientific work, Newton's theory of gravity, Robert Hooke's cell theory, and Descartes' philosophical proposition of "I think, therefore I am". The document also summarizes the works and beliefs of influential Enlightenment thinkers including Voltaire, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Rousseau.

1. In Review
The Scientific Revolution and the
Enlightenment

2. A few things about the move from the
Dark ages to this new age
• For most of history, man had used “common
sense” to explain the world around him, which
led to many false beliefs.
• During the Middle Ages, Arabs and Jews in the
Islamic Empire preserved ancient Greek and
Roman science.
• Thomas Aquinas (and others) helped people to
understand that Christianity and reason could
work together.
• A Theory is an explanation for how or why
something happens.

3. What you need to know
• Copernicus and heliocentric
• Kepler, the planets, ellipses
• Galileo and science
• Newton and gravity
• Robert Hooke and cells
• Descartes, “I think…”
• Rationalism
• Bacon and the scientific method
• Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu

4. Some new information on some old
people
• Voltaire
– Famous playwright in the 1700’s
– Thought people should be free to choose their
own beliefs
– Supported Deism: Religious belief based on
reason where God created the universe and its
laws, then set it in motion to run.

5. A few more old people worthy of
mention
• Mary Wollstonecraft:
– Considered to be the found of the women’s
movement
– Said that women should have the same rights as
men, which was a pretty new idea
• Rousseau:
– 1762: published The Social Contract
– Government is based on a social contract where
everyone in a society agrees to being governed by
the general will.