Intellectual Revolutions
that defined society
Instructor: Bona Abigail Hilario
UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS
• What is Intellectual Revolution?
• What is Scientific Revolution?
What is 'Intellectual Revolution'?
Science and
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Technology
Changes in the
New ideas & thoughts, beliefs
principles and social
institutions
Nicolaus Copernicus Charles Darwin Sigmund Freud
They significantly changed the views about the world and humanity in a major way.
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
• Copernicus was a Polish astronomer and
mathematician.
De revolutionibus
orbium coelestium
(On the
Revolutions of the
Heavenly Spheres)
• His heliocentric model of the universe proposed that the sun is the center of
the universe.
• It opposed the geocentric model, which said that the Earth is the center of the
universe, as proposed by Ptolemy and Aristotle and supported by the Church.
Although Copernicus' work lacked
mathematical and physical
explanations and evidences, it was still
considered significant because of 2
reasons:
• First, before and during the time of
Copernicus, astrology is more
important than astronomy. We know
today that astrology is not a real
science.
• In astrology, the Earth was
considered a powerful, extraordinary
celestial body that is the center of
the universe.
• Second, Copernicus' work laid the foundation for succeeding astronomers
to do revolutionary things. These scientists made it possible to understand
and explain many phenomena in the universe in a mathematical way.
Tycho Brahe Johannes Kepler Galileo Galilei
• Galileo's work made the telescope popular even for non-astronomers. This
marked the beginnings of popular science and science fiction.
The findings of Copernicus, along with his successors,
changed the society's view about astronomy. It became
more acceptable.
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
• Charles Darwin was an English
scientist whose works, Origin of
Species, and Descent of Man,
discussed his ideas on the evolution of
species and mankind.
• Darwin's works were controversial
especially to creationists and to the
religious.
Charles Darwin set sail on the ship HMS Beagle on December 27, 1831 (1839
published book), from Plymouth, England. Darwin was 22 years old when he
was hired to be the ship's naturalist.
• Darwin suggested that humans evolved
from pre-existing organisms as opposed
to the creationist view that God created
humans.
• Darwin’s finches
During Darwin's time, humans
were treated as very special
beings as compared to other
organisms. It was as if humans
were supernatural creations.
Darwin's works suggested that humans
are natural and are subject to the laws
of science; that humans are not so
different versus other organisms - that
humans, crabs, dogs, trees, worms and
other organisms are equal. They are all
species.
• From this new thinking, Charles Darwin
changed how society viewed humanity.
• Even though Darwin's works were controversial,
his supporters increased across the world, even
among religious personalities.
• Later, studies by other scientists supported or
revised Darwin's theory of evolution.
• Today, Charles Darwin is recognized as the
pioneer of the field of evolutionary biology.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
• Sigmund Freud was an Austrian
neurologist.
• His works in psychology are considered
revolutionary.
• He was credited for developing the
technique of psychoanalysis, theory on
psychosexual development, dream
interpretation and the id, ego, and
superego.
Psychoanalysis
Freud proposed psychoanalysis as a scientific method to understand the
mind through dialogue between patient and a psychoanalyst.
• Aims to promote
awareness of unconscious
and recurrent patterns of
emotion and behavior in
order to help a person
address the root causes of
their psychological issues.
= personality
Interpretation of Dreams
• The book provides a
groundbreaking theory of dreams
and an innovative method for
interpreting them
• For Freud, dreams are connected to
one's experiences.
• They are somehow products of the
unconscious mind that are based
on unfulfilled wishes.
• Today, many scientists consider Freud's works as pseudoscience because of
insufficient evidence and failure to be proven accurately.
• However, he is still considered revolutionary because he changed how
society viewed the human self.
