SCIENTIST AND PHILOSPHERS

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS

• Heliocentric theory- sun at the center of the solar system.
• Wrote On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies.
• Planetary movements.

JOHANNES KEPLER

• Continued Brahe's work, recording the movements of the planets.
• Showed planets revolved around the sun in elliptical orbits.
• Concluded certain math laws govern planetary motion.

GALILEO GALILEI

• Law of pendulum.
• Falling objects accelerate at fixed & predictable rate.
• Tested theory that heavy objects fall faster than lighter ones.

SIR FRANCIS BACON

• Believed understanding the world could generate knowledge and improve lives.
• Attacked medieval scholars.
• Experimental method.

RENE DESCARTES

• Analytical Geometry.
• Believed scientists needed to reject old assumptions & teachings.
• Relied on mathematics and knowledge.

JOHN LOCKE

• Believed people could learn from experience & improve.
• Criticized absolute monarchy.
• Favored the idea of self-government.

VOLTAIRE

• Published more than 70 books of political essays, history, etc.
• Made frequent