The Impact of the Scientific Revolution on Society Essay

The Impact of the Scientific Revolution on Worldviews and Life

During the last few decades of the 16th century and the first few decades of the 17th century, significant headway had been achieved in the Scientific Revolution (Jacob p. 1). As a direct consequence of this occurrence, people’s perspectives on the world and how they lived their lives significantly changed. For instance, discovering the laws of motion paved the way for constructing the steam engine. This was most readily seen in Europe. In addition to its significance in expanding scientific knowledge, it was also the impetus behind developing concepts such as democracy and human rights. In addition, it ushered in a brand new era of colonialism and exploration.

The Growing Acceptance of Science and Mathematics

The late 16th and early 17th centuries were crucial for the development of the Scientific Revolution. At this juncture in history, a growing number of people were beginning to take the discoveries made by contemporary science and mathematics more seriously. This event changed how people saw the world and conducted their daily lives. People regarded the natural world through one of the most significant shifts throughout this period, which is considered one of the essential developments in human thought.

Challenging Traditional Religious Explanations

Most individuals who lived before the Scientific Revolution believed that God created and ordered the cosmos, and the world, as they understood it, was a direct consequence of God’s handiwork. They thought everything had a reason for existing and that there was a particular design behind the events that transpired in the world. During the Scientific Revolution, scientists started questioning the validity of these notions.

The Scientific Revolution and Europe’s Expansion of Power

The scientific revolution significantly influenced how Europeans rose to power throughout history. Before the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, most people in Europe believed that the world could be divided into two distinct regions: Christendom and the heathen world. During the Scientific Revolution, when European people began to travel further abroad, they realized that other cultures and civilizations existed beyond their own.

Changing Views on Government and Society

Alterations in people’s conceptions of governments’ societal roles were another consequence of the Scientific Revolution. Before the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, the general view was that a nation’s founding concepts should be according to its religious beliefs. This was the case even after the Scientific Revolution began. During the Scientific Revolution, philosophers such as John Locke promoted that reason should be the foundation for the nation’s governing principles. This resulted in the development of the social compact, natural law, religious tolerance, and right-to-revolt concepts that later became foundational to the American Revolution and the subsequent U.S. Constitution.

The Shift from Qualitative to Quantitative Science

Furthermore, Newton’s rules signaled a shift from qualitative thought to the quantitative reality that continues to influence science today. The universe was now fortified rather than the cosmos and the Earth. It was essential for developing science and technology that this quantitative thought be used.

The Drive to Question Conventional Wisdom and Explore New Truths

The Scientific Revolution brought about the shift from philosophical thought to nature-based understanding. Nature as we knew it was under threat. Although God has always been the center of the universe, people began to wonder due to recent scientific advancements. Individuals were curious about the causes of the environment we live in. The Scientific Revolution sparked people’s ambition to challenge conventional wisdom and unearth new truths constantly.

Work Cited

Jacob, Margaret C. The Scientific Revolution: A Brief History with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.