The Age of Enlightenment: A Time of New Ideas

The Age of Enlightenment happened from the late 1600s to the late 1700s. This was a very important time for science. Thinkers during this period focused on using reason and evidence instead of just accepting what was traditionally believed. Their ideas changed how people viewed and practiced science.

Important Ideas from Enlightenment Thinkers

1. Scientific Method:

   • The Enlightenment was influenced by a way of thinking called the scientific method.
   • This method was shaped by people like Francis Bacon and René Descartes.
   • Bacon encouraged taking specific observations and using them to form general ideas, which is still important in science today.
   • Descartes believed in using logical reasoning to create theories.

2. Value of Reason:

   • Thinkers like John Locke said that we learn from our experiences and by thinking logically. This changed how scientists did their work.
   • Many scientific societies were formed during this time, showing a shift away from following just beliefs.
   • One example is the Royal Society, which started in 1660 and inspired future scientific groups.

3. Sharing Knowledge:

   • Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot helped spread scientific ideas through books and an important work called the Encyclopédie.
   • This book had contributions from over 140 authors and aimed to share knowledge with everyone.
   • By 1751, the Encyclopédie was selling more than 2,000 copies a year!

Big Advances in Science

1. Astronomy:

   • In the late 1600s, Isaac Newton made key discoveries like the laws of motion and how gravity works.
   • His book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, was very popular and sold over 1,500 copies, showing how much it influenced people.

2. Medicine:

   • The Enlightenment brought great changes in medical science.
   • For example, Edward Jenner created the smallpox vaccine in 1796, which helped greatly reduce deaths from this disease.
   • Before the vaccine, smallpox killed about 30% of adults who got it.
   • Because of new health practices influenced by Enlightenment ideas, people started living longer. Life expectancy rose from about 35 years to around 40 years by the 1800s.

3. Technology and Engineering:

   • The Enlightenment also saw new inventions like mechanical calculators and better ship designs, which helped with trade and exploration.
   • These advancements laid much of the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution, a time when production increased by up to 300% in many industries between 1750 and 1850.

Conclusion

The Age of Enlightenment was a key time for science. It emphasized reason, evidence, and working together across different fields. The scientific breakthroughs from this era have had lasting impacts, improving society in many ways, like longer life and new technologies. The ideas from Enlightenment thinkers still shape how we understand science today.