The scientific revolution refers to the history of science in the early modern period, where development in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, medicine and chemistry transformed views of society and nature. According to traditional accounts, the scientific revolution began in Europe towards the end of the Renaissance era and continued through the late 18th century, the later period known as The Enlightenment. While its dates are disputed, the publication in 1543 of Nicolaus Copernicus's De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) and Andreas Vesalius's De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human body) are often cited as marking the beginning of the scientific revolution. By the end of the 18th century the scientific revolution gave way to the "Age of Reflection".
Philosopher and historian Alexandre Koyré coined the term scientific revolution in 1939 to describe this epoch.
Read more about Scientific Revolution: Significance of The Revolution, New Ideas, Ancient and Medieval Background, New Approaches To Nature, Scientific Developments, Theoretical Developments, Contrary Views
Famous quotes containing the words scientific revolution, scientific and/or revolution:
“As in political revolutions, so in paradigm choice—there is no standard higher than the assent of the relevant community. To discover how scientific revolutions are effected, we shall therefore have to examine not only the impact of nature and of logic, but also the techniques of persuasive argumentation effective within the quite special groups that constitute the community of scientists.”
—Thomas S. Kuhn (b. 1922)
“Anyone who is practically acquainted with scientific work is aware that those who refuse to go beyond fact rarely get as far as fact; and anyone who has studied the history of science knows that almost every great step therein has been made by the “anticipation of Nature.””
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)