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Intellectual Revolutions That Defined Society
Intellectual Revolutions That Defined Society
Activities:
Interactive Classroom Discussion
Group Activity
Assessment:
Quiz
Oral Presentation of the Group Activity
Introduction:
This lecture reviews the intellectual revolutions that changed the way people perceive the influence of
Science on society in general. It focuses on three of the most important intellectual revolutions in history:
Copernican, Darwinian, and Freudian. By discussing these intellectual revolutions in the context of science,
technology and society, the attention of students are drawn against the toward complex interplay of various
social context and the development of modern science. This lecture also engages students in critical analysis of
ongoing intellectual and scientific revolutions, which they may find themselves to be part of it.
Lecture
Science is an old as the world itself. There is no individual that can exactly identify when and where
Science began. From the genesis of time, Science has exited. It is always interwoven with society. So how can
Science be defined?
1. Science as an idea
It includes ideas, theories and all available systematic explanations and observations
about natural and physical world.
2. Science as an Intellectual activity
It encompasses a systematic and practical study of the natural and physical world. This
process of study involves systematic observation and experimentation.
3. Science as a body of Knowledge
It is the subject or a discipline, a field of study, or a body of knowledge that deals with
the process of learning about the natural and physical world. This is what we refer to as
social Science.
4. Science as a personal and social activity
INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY- HAND- OUT # 3 ( MIDTERM- A.Y. 20120) 1
This explains that Science is both knowledge and activities done by human beings to
develop better understanding of the world around them. It means to improve life and
survive in life. It is interwoven with people’s lives.
Scientific Revolution
It is the period of enlightenment when the developments in the fields of mathematics, physics,
astronomy, biology, and chemistry transformed the views of society about nature.
The ideas generated during this period enabled the people to reflect, rethink, and reexamine their beliefs
and their way of life;
It led to the creation of new research fields in science and prompted the establishment of a strong
foundation for modern science.
Intellectual Revolutions
Refer to the series of events that led to the emergence of modern science and the progress of scientific
thinking across critical periods in history
In the words of French astronomer, mathematician and freemason, Jean Sylvain Bailey (1976) in
Cohen, these scientific revolutions involved a two- stage process of sweeping away the old and
establishing the new.
These revolutions are paradigm shift which resulted from renewed and enlightened understanding.
I. Copernican Revolution
Refers to the 16th – century paradigm shift named after the Polish mathematician and
astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus
Copernicus formulated the heliocentric model of the universe
At that time the belief was that the Earth was the center of the Solar System based on the
geocentric model of Ptolemy.
Copernicus introduced the heliocentric model in 40 page outline entitled Commentariolus.
He formalized his model in the publication of his treatise, De Revolutionibus Orbium
Coelistium ( The Revolution of Celestial Spheres ) in 1543
Copernicus repositioned the Earth from the center of the Solar System and introduced the
idea that the Earth rotates on its own axis. The model illustrated the Earth along with other
heavenly bodies, to be rotating around the sun.
The heliocentric model was met with huge resistance, primarily from the church, accusing
Copernicus of heresy.
Copernican model also had multiple inadequacies that were later filled in by astronomers
who participated in the revolution.
Despite problems with the model and persecution of the Church, the heliocentric model was
soon accepted by other scientists of the time, most profoundly by Galileo Galilei.
Copernicus System
Earth, like others, all circling the sun
Moon circling the Earth
Earth has 3 motions
o Daily rotation- one complete rotation in 24 hours. The spinning causes our day and night.
Day occurs when a face of the Earth is facing the sun
Night happens when we spin out of the reach of the sun rays.
It is called the Solar Day
o Annual Rotation around the sun
It takes the Earth 355 ¼ days to travel once around its orbit so as to end up in the same
position relative to the sun
We call this period a year or Solar year
o Earth Revolution around the sun
The Earth revolves around the sun in a counter clock wise direction.
It completes a revolution around the sun in exactly 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and
10 seconds.
This is called Sidereal year or a Star year
A. Mayan Civilization
One of the famous civilizations that lasted for approximately 2,000 years.
They incorporated their advanced understanding of astronomy into their temples and other
religious structures.
They are known for their knowledge of predicting eclipse and using astrological cycles in
planting and harvesting.
They are also known for measuring time using two complicated calendar systems.
The Maya developed a calendar that had two different parts.
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It had a solar calendar with 365 days, divided into 18 months with 20 days each with 5
extra days at the end.
A Lunar calendar and a Calendar based on the movement of the Planet Venus. This
was a sacred calendar with 260 days and 13 weeks of 20 days each.
The Mayan calendar says our present world was created in 3114 B.C. and the current
world will end on December 23, 2012 A.D.
They developed the technology for growing different crops and building elaborate cities using
ordinary machineries and tools.
They built looms for weaving cloth and devised a rainbow of glittery paints made from a
mineral called Mica.
They are also believed to be one of the first people to produce rubber products 3,000 years
before Goodyear received its patent in 1844.
They are one of the world’s first civilizations to use a writing system known as the Mayan
hieroglyphics;
They were also skilled in mathematics and created a number system based on the numeral 20.
They independently developed the concept of zero and positional value, even before the
Romans did.
B. The Inca Civilization
Located in the Andes mountain of South America
They made advanced scientific ideas
considering their limitations as an old civilization
Economy based on high altitude agriculture
The following were the scientific ideas and tool that they developed to help them in everyday
life.
1. Roads paved with stones;
2. Stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes and other disasters;
3. Irrigation system and technique for storing water for their crops to grow in all types of land;
4. Calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting;
season;
5. The first suspension bridge;
6. Quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret; and
7. Inca textiles since cloth was one of specially prized artistic achievements.
C. The Aztec Civilization
Has also made substantial contributions to science and technology and to the society as a whole.
Some of their contributions are the following:
1. Mandatory education.
Their children are mandated to get education regardless of their social class, gender, or
age. It is an early form of universal or inclusive education.
2. Chocolates.
The Aztec in Mexico developed chocolate during their time. The Aztec valued the
cacao beans highly and made them as part of their tribute to their gods.
3. Antispasmodic medication
They used a type of antispasmodic medication that could prevent muscle spasms and
relax muscles, which could help during surgery.
4. Chinampa
It is a form of Aztec technology for agricultural farming in which the land was divided
into rectangular areas and surrounded by canals.
5. Aztec Calendar
This enabled them to plan their activities, rituals, and planting season.
6. Invention of the canoe
A light narrow boat used for traveling in water systems.
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4.The Susruta Samhita describes different surgical and other medical procedures famous in
Ancient India.
5.They developed theories on the configuration of the universe, the spherical self-supporting
Earth, and the year of 360 days with 12 equal parts of 30 days each.
6.The people of this civilization, according to Bisht (1982), tried to standardize measurement
of length to a high degree of accuracy and designed a ruler, the Mohenjodaro ruler.
7.Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata (476–550), in his Aryabhatiya, introduced
a number of trigonometric functions, tables, and techniques, as well as algorithms of
algebra.
8.Another Indian, Brahmagupta, also suggested that gravity was a force of attraction, and
lucidly explained the use of zero as both a placeholder and a decimal digit.
9. Another Indian named Madhava of Sangamagrama is also considered as the founder of
mathematical analysis (Joseph, 1991).
B. China
It is one of the ancient civilizations with substantial contributions in many areas of life like
medicine, astronomy, science, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music, among others.
1. Known for traditional medicines, a product of centuries of experiences and discovery of
the Chinese people
2. Discovered various medical properties and uses of different plants and animals to cure
human illness; an example is the practice of acupuncture
3. Among the famous discoveries and inventions of the Chinese civilizations were compass,
papermaking, gunpowder, and printing tools.
4. They also invented other tools like iron plough, wheelbarrow, and propeller, among
others.
5. They developed a design of different models of bridges (Zhongguo ke xue yuan, 1983),
invented the first seismological detector, and developed a dry dock facility (Needham et
al., 1971).
6. Made significant records on supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses, and comets, which were
carefully recorded and preserved to understand better the heavenly bodies and their effects
to our world (Mayall, 1939)
7. They observed the heavenly bodies to understand weather changes and seasons that may
affect their daily activities. They used lunar calendars
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The Lebombo Bone, which may have been a tool for multiplication, division, and simple
mathematical calculation or a six month lunar calendar, is considered to be the oldest known
mathematical artifact dated from 35,000 BCE.
The Islamic regions in Africa during the medieval period was also benefiting from mathematical
learning, which is considered advanced during those times, such as algebra, geometry, and
trigonometry.
Assignment:
1. How did society shape science and how did science shape society?
2. How do social and human issues influence science?
Group Activity:
1. Form a small group.
2. Review the history of science and make a timeline highlighting the major discoveries and developments
in science.
Prepared by:
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