The Link Between Scientific Revolution and The French Revolution

How the scientific revolution connects with the French Revolution.

Numerous revolutions have occurred since Stone Age. Humans have been evolving since then trying their level best to survive and trying to nurture themselves in this hostile environment.All of these revolutions have impacted the lives of people and have changed the course of human history in one way or another. I’ll be discussing two specific revolutions, The Scientific Revolution and The French Revolution. Both of them had major effects on people and these completely changed the course of their life. What is the Scientific Revolution? The 18th century revolution was a movement of the intellectuals who dared to prove all the aspects in life scientifically. The motto of this revolution was

“Dare to know” presented by German philosopher “Immauel Kant”.

This moment was all about putting up the courage of using your own intelligence rather than blinding agreeing to what someone says about something. The term “Empiricism” was introduced by Francis Bacon which led people to observing and experimenting. Rene Descartes stated the idea that everything should be doubted until proved by reason. All these ideas were boosted by the work of “Nicolaus Copernicus” he denied that this universe was an earth centred one. His study of planetary moments for 25 years proved that stars, and all planets including earth revolved around the sun. This lead to scientific approach to every problem and this practice is continued till today

What is French Revolution? Political, economic, and social problems in France during the 18th century led to the French Revolution. John Locke started this moment. According to him everyone had absolute human rights and government should protect these absolute right rather than taking them away for this purpose John Locke personally criticized monarchy and social inequality throughout. He said that all humans are the same and they should be treated in the same way. The concept of superiority and inferiority should be diminished

How is the French revolution connected with the scientific revolution?

The French revolution changed the monarchy. This was huge step in that era. This helped French people to put on the courage to deny their Human Gods and stopped them from accepting slavery anymore. The people took things in their hands denying each and everything in their path. Same things happened in scientific revolution that gave enlightenment thinkers, especially John Locke and Montesquieu the courage to step up for change. All of these efforts by John Locke and Montesquieu had tremendous effect on the people of Europe. They started questioning the authorities and denying whatever seemed wrong to them rather than blinding agree to everything

The religion and the Church played the second most important factor. The Enlighten philosophers began to fight the teachings of the Catholic Church, which considered earthly life to be a simple passage towards eternal life. This concept was eliminated. They challenged the teaching of the priests, divine revelation and Church traditions. The existence of one God, Creator of the Universe, was accepted, but His intervention in the history of humanity was rejected.

These revolutions lead to new political and social values in society. Diderot declared that “man has only one duty that is to be happy.” The Enlighten thinkers wanted to achieve logical analysis based on current scientific environment rather than principles based on predecessor beliefs, laws and customs. All such practices were to be consumed by present enlightenment of people.

Before these revolutions all the educated world opposed to everything that was an obstacle to man thought and action. Both these revolutions formed the ideology of a society that is felt to have enough strength to fight for progress by coming up against the old understandings and backward regulation, advocating of new ideas conducted a spiritual revolution and thus prepared the ground for the struggle against absolutism and feudalism. Supporters of the new direction strongly triggered a thought that they would take over powerful figures and won’t let anything to come in between field of science and art. These Revolutions went through series of phases, each of which almost amounted to a revolution in itself if it wasn’t for these revolutions we wouldn’t have this enlighten brains and we are meant to be doomed by our own hands.