Essential People in the Scientific Revolution

Nicolaus Copernicus

Feb 19, 1473

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer, who had a prestige reputation. He was educated first in Cracow and later in Italy. 1543 was the year of his death. Nicolaus published On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. Historians say his book was "a revolution-making rather than a revolutionary text." This book criticized the dominant view of the position of the earth in the universe at the time of the 16th century.

Tycho Brahe

Dec 14, 1546

Tycho Brahe was a Danish nobleman known for his accurate astronomical observations. One of his greatest discoveries happened on November 11, 1572. Brahe saw SN 1572 supernova with his naked eye. He did what others before him were unable or unwilling to do. Brahe categorized the planets and stars with enough accuracy to determine whether the Ptolemaic or Copernican system was more valid in describing the heavens.

Francis Bacon

Jan 22, 1561

Francis Bacon was an Englishman. He was known as the father of empiricism and of experimentation in science. In one of his books and several others, Bacon "attacked the scholastic belief that most truth had already been discovered and only required an explanation." (Craig 2009, 680)

Galileo Galilei

Feb 15, 1564

Galileo Galilei was an Italian scientist to first turn a telescope on the heavens. He saw so many stars and new mountains on the moon that others could never see. Therefore, the heavens were far more complex than anyone had formerly suspected. Galileo's most significant finding was to "articulate the concept of a universe totally subject to mathematical laws." (Craig 2009, 680)

Johannes Kepler

Dec 27, 1571

Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer. Kepler was the founder of "celestial mechanics." (Napier) He was the first person to explain planetary motion. Kepler used Brahe's data to argue that the orbits of each planet were elliptical.

Rene Descartes

Mar 31, 1596

Rene Descartes was a famous French mathematician. He invented analytical geometry. Descartes also believed the world should be governed by mathematical laws that could be inferred by reason.

John Locke

Aug 29, 1632

John Locke was a "defender of the rights of the people against rulers who think their power is absolute." (Craig 2009, 684) Locke exclaimed the human mind is a "blank slate that may be molded by modifying the environment." (Craig 2009, 685) He also believed that humans can take hold of their own destinies rather than with aid from God himself.

Isaac Newton

Dec 25, 1642

Isaac Newton was a mathematician and physicist. He described the effect of gravity mathematically. He also established a theoretical basis for physics. Newton was the inventor of calculus. He was considered the "founding examplar of modern physical science." (Hall)