SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY

CHAPTER 2 –
INTELLECTUAL
REVOLUTIONS
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this chapter, the students
should be able to;
1. Discuss the paradigm shifts through
history;
2. Explain how the intellectual revolution
changed the way how humans see the
world; and
3. Describe the technological advancements
that happened in the information age.
 INTRODUCTION
• All of the discoveries and inventions in science
and technology during each time period were
due to human needs and wants.
• Brilliant minds responded to the call of the times
and created things that could make life easier for
the people.
• There have also been instances when
advancements in science and technology
changed people’s perceptions and beliefs.
 COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
• Early times (People questioned what created
days and nights)
• Heavenly bodies (sun, stars, moons and
planets)
• The invention of the telescope allowed the
people to take a peek at the outer space.
• Many Greek Philosophers and Intellectuals
wrote about planets in an attempt to explain the
movements of heavenly bodies and their effects
on the world as they knew it.
• Many of these Philosophers agreed the planets
moved around in circular motion, and that these
movements created days and nights, among
others.
• A famous philosopher and astronomer,
CLAUDIUS PTOLEMY (Circular motion around
the Earth)
• Existence of days (Sun and Moon’s Revolution)
• He believed that the Earth was at the center – a
concept known as GEOCENTRISM.
• It was widely accepted by the people and was
one of the greatest discoveries of that time.
• 16th century, NICOLAUS COPERNICUS (a
Polish mathematician and astronomer,
challenged the Ptolemaic model)
• He introduced a new concept known as
HELIOCENTRISM.
• Heliocentrism suggested that the center of the
solar system was not the Earth but actually the
sun.
• This idea was rejected at first by the public.
• It appalled many since their religious belief had
taught them that the Earth was created first
before all other things.
• Copernicus was even persecuted as a heretic
because his teachings were against what was
widely accepted by religion.
• Astronomers realized that the Copernican model
simplified the orbits for planets.
• It also answered issues that could not be
explained using the geocentric model.
• It was eventually accepted by the people in a
period which was called the birth of modern
astronomy.
• This Era began what was known as the scientific
revolution which resulted in the transformation of
society’s thoughts and beliefs.
 DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
• One of the most controversial intellectual
revolutions of its time.
• In 1859, Charles Darwin, an English
Naturalist, Biologist and Geologist,
published his books, ON THE ORIGIN OF
SPECIES.
• Theory of Evolution – populations pass
through a process of natural selection in
which only the fittest would survive.
• He stated that organisms have the
ability to adapt to their environment
and would gradually change into
something that would be more
competitive to survive.
• This theory contradict to the church’s
teaching
• It even sparked a massive debate
between science and religion.
 FREUDIAN REVOLUTION
• Psychology was always classified under
philosophy.
• PSYCHOLOGY was considered more of an art
rather than a science.
• 19th century, SIGMUND FREUD was able to
change people’s perception of psychology with
his revolutionary theory of PSYCHOANALYSIS.
• PSYCHOANALYSIS is the study that explains
human behavior.
• There are many conscious and unconscious
factors that can influence human behavior and
emotions.
• He also argued that personality is a product of three
conflicting elements: ID, EGO, and SUPER EGO.
• ID - It is entirely in the unconscious. It is our hidden true
animalistic wants and desires. It works on the Pleasure
Principle.
• EGO - It develops after the Id. It negotiates between the ID
and the environment. It is what everyone sees as our
personality. It is in our conscious and unconscious minds. It
works on the reality principle.
• SUPER EGO - Ego mediates between the superego and id. It
is our conscience.
• Many believed that Freud’s theory had no scientific basis as
no empirical or experimental data could support it.
• PSYCHOANALYSIS can be a clinical method in treating some
mental disorders.
• Soon enough, people were able to understand the concepts
of Psychoanalysis, which eventually resulted in classifying
psychology as a science.
 Questions for Reflection
1. Why do you think were most intellectual ideas
controversial?
2. Why did the people accept these new discoveries
despite being contradictory to what was widely
accepted at that time?
3. How do intellectual revolutions transform societies?
4. Can you name other specific revolutions that happened
in the following places?
a. Meso-America
b. Asia
c. Middle East
d. Africa