Enlightenment and Revolutions

Front

Italian physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who invented an accurate telescope and supported Copernicus's ideas.

Back

Galileo Galilei

Answer explanation

Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, mathematician, and astronomer known for inventing an improved telescope and advocating for Copernicus's heliocentric model, making him a key figure in the Scientific Revolution.

Front

English philosopher and scientist who is considered the Father of the Scientific Revolution after his development of the Scientific Method.

Back

Sir Francis Bacon

Answer explanation

Sir Francis Bacon is recognized as the Father of the Scientific Revolution due to his formulation of the Scientific Method, which emphasized empirical evidence and experimentation, laying the groundwork for modern scientific inquiry.

Front

Who argued that the natural state of mankind is cruel and evil, necessitating a government led by an absolute monarch to keep them "in check"?

Back

Hobbes

Answer explanation

Hobbes argued that in the natural state, humans are inherently cruel and evil, necessitating a strong government led by an absolute monarch to maintain order and prevent chaos.

Front

Who argued that there should be a separation of government powers to prevent a single person from becoming too powerful?

Back

Montesquieu

Answer explanation

Montesquieu argued for the separation of government powers in his work 'The Spirit of the Laws'. He believed this structure would prevent any one individual from gaining excessive power, contrasting with the ideas of Hobbes and Rousseau.

Front

Believed that everyone was born with three natural rights (life, liberty, and property) that the government was responsible for protecting

Back

John Locke

Answer explanation

John Locke believed that individuals are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which the government must protect. This philosophy laid the groundwork for modern democratic thought.

Front

The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment were similar in that they:

Back

encouraged new ideas.

Answer explanation

The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment both encouraged new ideas by promoting reason, scientific inquiry, and individualism, which challenged traditional beliefs and laid the groundwork for modern thought.

Front

Who is credited with saying "I think, therefore I am"?

Back

Rene Descartes

Answer explanation

Rene Descartes is credited with the famous philosophical statement "I think, therefore I am," which emphasizes the act of thinking as proof of existence. The other figures listed did not make this assertion.

Front

According to John Locke, what are the three natural rights that everyone is said to be born with?

Back

Life, liberty, and property

Answer explanation

According to John Locke, the three natural rights everyone is born with are life, liberty, and property. This concept emphasizes the importance of individual rights and the protection of personal ownership.

Front

What does it mean if the earth is heliocentric?

Back

The Sun is the center of the universe

Answer explanation

If the earth is heliocentric, it means that the Sun is at the center of the universe, not the earth. This model contrasts with the geocentric model, where the earth is considered the center.

Front

What does it mean if the Earth is geocentric?

Back

The Earth is the center of the universe.

Answer explanation

If the Earth is geocentric, it means that it is considered the center of the universe, with all celestial bodies revolving around it. This concept contrasts with the heliocentric model, where the Earth revolves around the sun.