Geocentric Model and Scientific Revolution

The Geocentric Model

• The geocentric model, supported by Aristotle and Ptolemy, placed Earth at the universe's center, with the sun and planets revolving around it.
• This view aligned with religious beliefs, particularly the Christian view of Earth's central position in God's creation.
• Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, developed this model, studying under Plato and founding the Lyceum. He believed in perfect spherical planets and stars, except for Earth.
• Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer, expanded upon Aristotle's geocentric theory and introduced trigonometric methods.

The Scientific Revolution

• The Scientific Revolution, spanning the 16th to 18th centuries in Europe, transformed societal views of nature through advancements in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry.
• Factors contributing to this revolution included voyages of discovery and colonization, the translation of ancient and medieval texts, and new inventions and institutions enabling knowledge sharing.

Heliocentrism and Key Figures

• Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and astronomer, proposed a sun-centered (heliocentric) model of the universe, challenging the geocentric model. He explained the daily and yearly movements of the sun and stars.
• Johannes Kepler, through experimentation and observation, mathematically formulated planetary movement, showing elliptical orbits instead of circular ones, supporting Copernicus.
• Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer, used his telescope to observe celestial bodies, providing observational data that supported the heliocentric model, including observations of the Moon, phases of Venus, and Jupiter's moons.

Isaac Newton and His Laws

• Isaac Newton formulated the universal law of motion, stating that every object attracts every other object. This included his three laws of motion and his explanation of gravity.
• His work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687), explained gravity and presented a view of the universe as a giant clock, with God as the initial mover.

Advances in Biology and the Scientific Method

• Andreas Vesalius, through human dissection, authored On the Fabric of the Human Body (1543), providing detailed anatomical drawings.
• William Harvey published On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals (1628), describing the heart's role in blood circulation.
• Francis Bacon, an English politician and writer, advocated for the scientific method, emphasizing experimentation over ancient philosophical conclusions. The scientific method was outlined as: Observation, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analysis, Conclusion.

Darwinian Revolution

• Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, proposed the theory of evolution, stating that all life is related and descended from a common ancestor. This was detailed in his book, On the Origin of Species.
• His work emphasized natural selection, where the fittest organisms survive and adapt to their environments, leading to gradual change and increased competitiveness.

Freudian Revolution

• Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, developed a method for treating mental illness and a theory explaining human behavior.
• His theory highlighted the unconscious mind's influence on behavior, positing a human mind composed of three conflicting elements: the id, ego, and superego.