Age of Reason Chapter 15 Scientific Discoveries Two principal authorities for understanding the universe in Middle Ages 1. Ancient philosophers 2. Church tradition Errors in church teachings Philosophers undependable Science Can explain how something happens but cannot explain why it happens Cannot make moral judgments Is limited to what men observe about the physical world Scientific knowledge is constantly expanding Scientific Revolution Increased man s knowledge of the physical universe Old myths & legends discarded Nicolaus Copernicus Questioned Ptolemy s geocentric theory of the universe Presented heliocentric theory of the universe Geocentric Model Heliocentric Model 1
Disagreed with Copernicus belief of circular orbits of planets Johannes Kepler Eliptical Orbits Discovered that orbits are elliptical (oval shaped) Galileo Galilei Telescopes Suggested use of the pendulum to measure time Improved the telescope Confirmed Copernicus heliocentric theory and Kepler s elliptical orbits Tried for heresy by the Roman Catholic Church Isaac Newton Demonstrated with prism that white light is actually composed of many different colors. Discovered law of gravity Andreas Vesalius Examined actual structure of the human body Called Father of Anatomy 2
Paracelsus Suggested that since the human body is chemical in nature, chemicals should be used to treat disease Discovered that the heart alone acts as a pump, pushing blood through the arteries and the veins; thus, blood is not consumed but constantly circulated. William Harvey Edward Jenner Developed method of inoculation called vaccination First to publish the law of inverse gas pressure Robert Boyle Joseph Priestley Discovered ammonia, oxygen, nitrous oxide, hydrochloric acid, and carbon dioxide Antoine Lavoisier Used logical rather than fanciful terminology for chemicals 3
Anton van Leeuwenhoek Greatly improved the microscope Gerhardus Mercator Devised a way to map the earth on a flat surface It is still the standard pattern for mapmaking Intellectual Attitudes Intellectual Attitudes Strong emphasis placed on power of human reason in search for truth Philosophers looked to human reason as solution for all of life s problems Rationalism viewing reason as the only source of knowledge Sir Francis Bacon Advocated inductive method From specific cases to a general conclusion Question all existing knowledge Careful observation and experimentation before arriving at a conclusion René Descartes Believed, like Bacon, that every false idea and prejudice had to be discarded Believed, however, that man could be deceived by his senses Relied on reason aided by mathematics Deductive method - Simple premise to more complex truth (logic) 4
Baruch Spinoza Did not recognize God as a personal being Taught that everything in the universe, whether physical or spiritual is part of one great substance called god John Locke Advocated Empiricism The idea that all knowledge comes through experience Rejected the idea that God has implanted certain truths within each person from birth. Maintained mind of a baby is like a blank tablet on which experiences of life are written Rejected idea of original sin Chose to believe that man is basically good Montesquieu A New York Times Magazine poll, The Way We Live Now, reports that 73% of adults believe all people are born inherently good. Glen Shultz, Kingdom Education Second edition, p. 19 Inspired by John Locke Believed that England was the symbol of political freedom Concluded that the liberty of the English resulted from the separation of the three powers of govt.: executive, legislative, and judicial Wrote The Spirit of Laws Voltaire Used clever wit to insult people Outspoken critic of abuses in society, especially religious and political intolerance Hated organized religion Advocated a religion ruled by reason Was not an atheist but a deist Denis Diderot Edited the French Encyclopédie Contributed several hundred articles himself 5
Jean Jacques Rousseau Favored emotion and sentiment above reason Often called the Father of Romanticism Believed that man is born free and should be able to do whatever he wants to do Believed in the basic goodness of man Wrote The Social Contract Revivals in 17 th Century Germany Govt. should be built upon will of the people (democracy) 17 th Century Germany Philipp Spener Lutheran minister Saw need for close Christian fellowship for converts Organized special meetings for prayer & Bible study in his home Published Pious Wishes which outlined failures of the church and issued call for spiritual renewal August Francke Professor at the University of Halle Helped establish & supervise an orphanage, elementary & secondary schools & a Bible-printing organization. Emphasized godliness and Christian Wisdom Nikolaus von Zinzendorf Studied under Francke Left Lutheran Church & became leader of Moravians Moravian missionaries traveled throughout the world preaching the gospel & seeking to unite all Christians Moravians exalt experience above doctrine & movement declines 6
18 th Century England Revivals in 18 th Century England John Wesley Traveled about 250,000 miles on horseback Preached about 42,000 sermons Ordained as an Anglican minister in 1728 Joined club brother helped establish at Oxford U. He and Charles referred to as Methodists Missionary to American colony of Georgia in 1735 Actually converted by Moravians in 1738 Considered to be founder of Methodist Church George Whitfield Converted in 1735 & ordained an Anglican minister a year later. Preached throughout Britain & in the American colonies Efforts helped further Great Awakening in America (1740-42) 18 th Century America Revivals in 18 th Century America 7
Jonathan Edwards 1703-58 Advocated need for personal conversion Often studied 13 hours/day Most famous sermon: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Warned unrepentant hearers that only God s Mercy kept them from hell Benefits of Great Awakening Political Social Spiritual New England: Between 25,000 & 50,000 people converted 150 new churches established More concern for mission work Renewed efforts to reach Native Americans Schools established to train ministers Artistic Reflection The values, attitudes and concerns reflected in architecture, painting, music, and literature. Mannerism Did not strive for realism and balance Works filled with distortions and exaggerations El Greco 1541-1614 Domenikos Theotokopoulos Greek who settled in Spain Figures have elongated bodies and limbs Mystical atmosphere with dramatic, & sharply contrasting colors El Greco Baroque Probably originated from Portuguese word meaning an irregularly shaped pearl. Refers to period in art history from 1600-1750 Style is grand, dynamic, heroic, active, swirling, sensual, and emotional. 8
Giovanni Bernini Designed beautiful fountains for Roman plazas an colonnades outside St. Peter s Basilica Accomplished sculptor and painter Sculpture captured subjects in motion Peter Paul Rubens 1577-1640 Popularized baroque style in painting Traveled to Italy & studied works of master painters of High Renaissance. Many requests for his work Dramatic, rich landscapes & robust figures Rembrandt van Rijn 1606-69 Perhaps greatest Dutch painter of all time Gold tones and warm browns By contrasting light and dark (chiaroscuro) he created subtle moods on canvas Themes inspired by biblical stories 9
Rococo Style A French term that means a pebble Refers to the small, shell-like ornaments that characterize rococo decoration Used most often in interior decoration Delicate and feminine Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) Watteau (Rococo) His work reflects the frivolous, decadent, and artificial court life of the 18 th century 10
Rococo Style Neoclassical Art Orderly, formal, calm, and balanced Baroque Age in Music 1. Composers gradually turned from polyphony (music with several melody lines) to homophony (music with one basic melody line & several supporting harmonies) Opera a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. 2. Trend toward secular music commissioned by royalty & aristocracy 3. New types of compositions: opera ballet oratorio Ballet an artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes. Oratorio (Classical Music) a dramatic but unstaged musical composition for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, based on a religious theme 11
4. Instrumental music became more important 5. Instrumentalists usually accompanied vocal numbers 6. Many of the earliest baroque composers were Italian Italian musical markings became standard throughout Europe adagio (slowly) Claudio Monteverdi 1567-1643 Especially famous for his operas First opera was Orfeo forte (loudly) George Fredrick Handel 1685-1759 German immigrant to England Spent early years composing Italian-style operas Best-known musical composition is the Messiah Johhann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750 Came from a very musical family Strong Lutheran influence Personal faith and knowledge of the Scriptures shine in his religious music Franz Joseph Haydn 1732-1809 Wrote a large amount of music, 104 symphonies 83 string quartets 50 piano sonatas Several operas 2 oratorios Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791 Child prodigy Learned to play harpsichord at age four Composed pieces at the age of five Died in poverty at thirty-five in unmarked grave 12
Ludwig Van Beethoven 1770-1827 Early works reflect classical style Later works reflect romanticism Literature in the Age of Reason Molière 1622-73 Best remembered for his comedies in which he pokes fun at the hypocrisy and vices in society Alexander Pope 1688-1744 Foremost poetic satirist Quotes: To err is human, to forgive is divine. A little learning is a dangerous thing. Steeped in humanistic philosophy of the Enlightenment Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 Master of prose Daniel Defoe Greatest work was Gulliver s Travels Intended to be a satire on human behavior Became a favorite children s story. 13
Edward Gibbon 1737-94 Wrote Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Claimed that Christianity reawakened the fighting spirit of the Romans and caused religious controversy which brought about internal disorder within the empire 14