Johannes Kepler

As Isaac Asimov once put it, “The physical world is a wonderful world, but it is also confusing.”(1) In the ancient times, civilizations turned to myths and/or created religions to explain natural phenomena. In other words, humans have tried, and are still trying to figure out, the universe. This inquisition started in ancient civilizations and leads up to the presents day. Facts are sorted out from fiction in this era but, in previous ones, theories arose and were spread throughout the country…

Often some of the greatest discoveries hold the greatest mysteries. Discovered by sponge divers in 1902, the Antikythera Mechanism, often thought of as the first underwater archaeology find, is no exception. Careful studies have dated this artefact to the first century B.C., but the artefact has the appearance and complexity of a much later time in history. Now believed to be an elaborate calendar and astronomical device, the Antikythera Mechanism harbours its mystery within its intricate inner…

From the 14th to the 18th century, the world experienced significant changes. Each century was defined by it’s own intellectual developments, varying from music and art, to politics and economics. From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, certain ideas and beliefs were sources of different conflicts and resolutions that impacted western culture forever. The 13th and 14th centuries, known as the Late Middle Ages, were a time of struggle. Politically, this time period was a mess. The hundred…

A person born on January 4, 1643, in hamlet of Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, was named Isaac Newton. Now, Isaac Newton was an established physicist and mathematician, and has been given the credit as one of the great minds of the 17th century Scientific Revolution. He is also well known due to his law of gravitation. The way that Sir Isaac Newton developed the principles of modern physics was by discoveries in optics, motion, and mathematics. In the early life of Sir Isaac, he was the only…

The Renaissance was a European cultural movement from the 14th to the 17th century. This era involved a renewal of learning, development of infrastructure, and a gradual reform of education. Numerous artists, poets, and scientists have influenced modern culture by developing new art concepts and innovative scientific discoveries. Translated to “rebirth,” it is believed that this time period was a prominent distinction from the Middle Ages. The Renaissance was a period distinct from the Middle…

clearly. I believe knowing how the eye works, the different types of corrective lenses, and discovering the types of distorted vision, helps us to be able to obtain better vision. First, during the 1400s glasses were created (Klein). Around 1500 Johannes…

As we turn to the issue of atheism, I believe some framework is necessary. Atheism is typically defined as a lack of belief in God and it is in the definition of God that the issue arises. Clearly, the two philosophers have a different definition of the word God. As hopefully made clear in the second and third paragraph, Spinoza thinks that God is an impersonal summation of all things (i.e. substance), while Berkeley thinks that God is a personal, thinking thing responsible for but distinct from…

During the late Middle Ages, a great spirit of questioning traditional beliefs of the world began. This movement, essentially a rebellion against old views and ways, became known as the scientific revolution. Many great thinkers, scientists, and philosophers emerged during this period, sharing their ideas with the world. Many of these people’s theories, philosophies, and inventions still have a lasting effect on our world today, making it clear that the scientific revolution was a monumentally…

Isaac Newton lived a difficult life ever since the day he was born. Born on January 4, 1643, he was an unfortunate baby. He was not expected to live a single day because of how tiny and weak he was. He was born without a father, and his mother left him behind for a wealthy man. He grew up living with his grandmother for years until his mother returned due to the death of her second husband. He was enrolled at the King's School in Grantham, where he was introduced with chemistry. However, his…

Scholars today have long debated about whether or not there was a Scientific Revolution during the 15th and 17th century. Political revolutions are easy to identify, due to actual events that occurred, which often identify as life altering events, such as change of regimes. However, social, cultural and intellectual revolutions on the other hand are more difficult to identify. They are often slower, and less momentous, but their impact on society are far greater than any political uprising. One…