Intellectual Revolution

WEEK 1 - TOPIC 2
OBJECTIVES:

1. Discuss paradigm shifts through history.

2. Explain how intellectual revolution changed
how humans see the world.
3. Select a revolutionary scientist and write a
speech representing his/her theory
 The Man who moved the Sun

The way people think about Solar System has changed many
times throughout history. Before the development of telescope
astronomy beliefs were based on what can be seen by the naked
eye. One of the earliest ideas on how Solar System was structured
was introduced by Claudius Ptolemy. He posited that planets as
well as the sun and the moon, moved in a circular motion around
the Earth, a concept which is known as geo-centrism.
This geocentric model, considered to be one of the greatest
discoveries of all time, was widely accepted by the people and
became the astronomical dogma in Western civilization for 1,400
years.
 In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the
geocentric model by putting sun at the center of the solar system
and known as the concept of heliocentrism. 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.
 Evolution of human beings

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who studied

variation in plants, animals and fossils during a five-year
voyage around the world in the 19th century.
 
 Darwin's theory of evolution challenged the idea that God made all the
animals and plants that live on Earth in a single day, which contradicted
the commonly held Christian views of his era. He did not publish his
scientific work and ideas until 28 years after his voyage. Finally, as a
result of Darwin's world expedition and observations, which were
enhanced by many years of experimentation, his discussions with like-
minded. Scientists and his developing knowledge of geology and fossils,
he proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Darwin proposed that: individual organisms within a particular species
show a wide range of variation for a characteristic, individuals with
characteristics most suited to the environment are more likely to
survive to breed successfully; and the characteristics that have
enabled these individuals to survive are then passed on to the next
generation. This is called Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.
The Father of Psychoanalysis
In the past, the field of Psychology was always classified under
philosophy.
Psychology was considered more of an art rather than a science.
In the late 19th century, Sigmund Freud was able to change
people’s perception of psychology with his revolutionary theory of
psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is the study of human behavior. In
his theory, Freud explained that there are many conscious and
unconscious factors that can influence behavior and emotions. He
also argued that personality is a product of three conflicting elements:
id, ego and superego.
 
Despite criticisms, Freud still continued to work on refining his theory
and in fact tried to explain how 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.
EVALUATION:
What we had just studied are the major intellectual revolutions in the
past. At present, what are the widely acceptable theory that could
explain.

Celestial Mechanics
 
Evolution of human beings

Psychoanalysis