Analysis of Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment in Western Europe

This essay examines the profound influence of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment on Western European society. It begins by highlighting the shift from a Theocentric to an Anthropocentric worldview, driven by the Renaissance and the desire to challenge the power of the Church. The paper analyzes how the scientific revolution, with its emphasis on empirical observation and critical thinking, undermined religious dogma and paved the way for the Enlightenment. Key figures like Hume, Kant, Voltaire, Rousseau, and others are discussed, along with their critiques of existing political, social, and economic structures. The essay explores the conflict between scientific discoveries and religious beliefs, and the impact of enlightened despots. It further outlines the philosophers' focus on human nature, the pursuit of a better society, and the secularization of thought. The essay concludes by emphasizing the lasting impact of these movements on Western Europe and their influence on other countries. The essay also mentions the works of Cole et al. (2012) for referencing the ideas and arguments. This essay is a valuable resource for students studying history and the development of Western thought.

Running head: SCIENTIFIC ENLIGHTENMENT
SCIENTIFIC ENLIGHTENMENT
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The scientific revolution in the western European countries completely changed the
way that the people used to see the world previously. According to the researchers, it
originated from the renaissance stress and moved Europe from Theocentric to
Anthropocentric. Despite the fact that building a secular society was the aim initially but
curbing the power of Pope was the chief objective to challenge the traditional society. This
paper analyses the influence pf scientific revolution and the enlightenment on the philosopher
of the western Europe.
Scientific in the middle ages was utilised to make the people realise glory of God and
his creation. The scientific revolution changed the course of thought and shifted focus from
the religious view and examine universe from the scientific perspective. It promoted critical
thinking dissuading faith. Belief in superstitions and miracles were replaced by rational
thinking. This notion of critical analysis about everything in the society starting from religion
and economy to politics along with the optimism that human mind can find solutions of
everything was branded as the Enlightenment. 16th and 17th century intellectuals mostly the
writers and philosophers had this optimistic understanding that society could be changed for
better. Writers like Hume and Kant, were chiefly interested in educating people to think
critically of everything and the philosophers, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot and
Montesquieu were not only revolutionaries but also reformers. They criticized all the existing
political, social and economic structures for improvement.
The scientific revolution in Europe proved to be a threat for the power and dominance
of religious because the scientists like Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Newton were
questioning the traditional views of science. The trail and disagreement between these
scientists and the Church symbolised the conflict between scientific knowledge and religious
beliefs. The traditional teaching of Bible where the earth was in the centre of the universe
directly opposed with Kepler and Copernicus’ theories of universe, law of universal

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gravitation by Newton and philosophical theories of Francis Beckon. These scientists pointed
out the better way of obtaining knowledge. The scientists of this age were responsible for
finding the chief aspects for improving the scientific methodology. These scientific
ideologies influenced the enlightened despots of this era greatly which was exposed in their
philosophies for changing society.
The enlightened personnel included politicians, writers and philosophers. They who
advocated for obtaining new knowledge which is acquired through inductive, experimental as
well as reasoning process (Cole et al., 2012). They discouraged the medieval thoughts and
ideologies and encouraged people to gather information, observe then draw conclusion
instead of believing what the rulers or the religious heads were preaching. This new
intellectual movement in the age of reason had explained the natural and human social laws
in detail. These philosophers had all the methods need to prove themselves therefore focused
themselves in bring optimistic changes in the society.
The writers and philosophers like Hobbes and Locke utilised proper methods to
discover the laws of the human nature. These enlightened intellectuals were convinced that
they could solve any kind of social and intellectual problems. To them it was not impossible
to form a better society where improvement was inevitable. They felt free from all kind of
manacles of religion therefore focused on improving the economic as well as social
conditions. Thus, their movement remained profoundly secular.
The western European society had much to change after the enlightenment and the
scientific revolution as the philosophers identified the barriers of social progress. In addition
to limit the power of the Church or religious authorities, the scholars also aimed to curb the
royal absolutism. These scholars wanted to decentralise the power of the king in various
branches so that it can guarantee freedom by preventing despotism. Philosophers like

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Voltaire and Rousseau, asked for political and social rights and religious tolerance (Cole et
al., 2012). According to them, the existence of God was like a clockmaker who built the
universe and let it operate under the laws of human nature. Diderot on the other hand
questioned the unjust taxation prevailed in the European society which gave birth of social
class and exploitation. The maximization of government revenues was opposed by the
physiocrats who wanted rational economic system in the society (Cole et al., 2012).
Moreover, the concept of law and punishment, situation of the women in the society
were also studied by these enlightened philosophers. Therefore, it can be concluded that the
scientific academics and enlightened thoughts guided the western European society to
flourish that became an ideal example for other countries.

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References:
Cole, J., Symes, C., Coffin, J. G., & Stacey, R. C. (2012). Western Civilizations: Their
History and Their Culture. WW Norton.