SOAN 2111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: History Of Science, Social Forces, Philosophes
2 Mar 2013
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Philadelphia they were all committed to the rational pursuit of truth but also had their philosophical and political differences the british thinkers were relatively content with their social and political institutions the germans were almost entirely un-political. French philsophes who were vehemently criticized both church and state, campaigning unrelentingly for the basic freedoms freedom from arbitrary power, freedom of speech, freedom of trade, freedom to realize one"s talents. A secular mode of thought had been slowly developing several centuries earlier. 1300-1700, social forces first weakened and then shattered whatever unity. Medieval science was teleological: it"s purpose was to attain knowledge for the sake of god: the purpose of science was to discover god"s intentions for his creation the medieval mind was dominated by the church. Newton believed that order is immanent in the universe and is discovered by observation: that became the methodological presmise of the 18th century and it is this premise that distinguishes it from the 17th century.
