Discuss_the_Development_of_Science_and_Philosophy_in_the_Baroque_Period

The Baroque Period was an era when minds and imaginations were opened to new worlds of philosophy and scientific knowledge as well as artistic creativity. The baroque period of science and philosophy existed from 1600 to 1750. The Baroque period was an era of prominence and brilliance that gave off a powerful awe inspiring philosophy and scientific knowledge that was full of flamboyant concepts and overall dramatic qualities from all involved. The word "Baroque," like most period or stylistic designations, was invented by later critics rather than practitioners of the arts in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The term is a French translation of the Portuguese phrase "pérola barroca," which means "irregular pearl," or false jewel (Baroque Period, 2007). It is only in the 20th century that this term has been employed to refer to a period in history (The Baroque Era (1600-1750 C.E.), n.d.). With the spread of humanism, the sixteenth century had seen a growing spirit of philosophical and scientific inquiry. In the baroque period, the fresh approach to the world and its phenomena was expressed in clear and consistent terms through the use of philosophy and science for the first time since the Greeks (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). Throughout the seventeenth century, philosophy-like the visual arts-continued to extend and intensify ideas first developed in the Renaissance by pushing them to new extremes (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). During the baroque period, certain individuals were solely responsible for the philosophical development of this era; those individuals include Rene Descartes (1596-1650), Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and John Locke (1632-1704). As well as the philosophical development there were certain individuals who played an essential part in the scientific discoveries of the seventeenth they are Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Isaac Newton (1643-1727) and Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). Each one of these individuals were important contributors in the development of the philosophy and scientific knowledge which has been accredited to the baroque period. One of the most well-known French philosophers was Rene Descartes, often called the "Father of Modern Philosophy" and the "Father of Modern Mathematics," and much of subsequent Western philosophy is a reaction to his writings, which have been closely studied from his time through the present day (Rene Descartes, 2005). In many ways Descartes philosophical position was symptomatic of his age (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). Turning to philosophy and mathematics he started a lifelong journey for reliable evidence to distinguish certainty from misrepresentation. According to Descartes, the first essential in the search for truth was to make a fresh start by refusing to believe anything that could not be decisively proved to be true (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). In order for Descartes to come to any conclusion he had to doubt all of his previous beliefs as well as the evidence of his own wisdoms. Initially, Descartes arrives at only a single principle: Thought exists. Thought cannot be separated from the thinker, therefore, the thinker exists. Most famously, this is known as cogito ergo sum (Latin: "I think, therefore I am"), or more aptly, "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum" (Latin: "I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am") (Rene Descartes, 2005). Consequently, Rene Descartes determined that something or someone must be doing the doubting; hence the very fact that the doubted something or someone proved its actual existence. From this conclusion, Descartes can be certain that he exists because he thinks as do others so they too must exist. Science in the seventeenth century and the problems it encountered were typical of the life and work of Galileo Galilei. Italian physicist Galilei who was often called the “Father of Modern Physics,” and the “Father of Science (Galileo Galilei, 2006).” Galilei was a man who changed the scientific world in two ways: first, as a stargazer and second, as the founder of modern physics. In 1609 Galilei designed and built his own telescope and lens which he used for the first time to see the craters of the moon, sunspots, the phases of Venus, and other phenomena that showed that the universe is in constant state of change (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). After additional examinations, Galileo reached the conclusion that the Earth moves and the Sun stands still at the center and this was explained to Church authorities for their approval and/or acceptance into theory. This scientific discovery made by Galileo overturned what had been the basic philosophical and scientific principle for over 2000 years. However, in 1616 Church authorities banned Galileo’s idea and delivered him an order not to "hold or defend" the idea that the Earth moves and the Sun stands still at the center (Galileo Galilei, 2006). Galileo considered the Church authorities incompetent to evaluate scientific matters and refused to give way to his theory (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). The more triumphantly Galileo proclaimed his findings, the more he found himself involved in something beyond mere scientific controversy (Cunningham, 2010 Custom Edition). Nonetheless, the decree did not prevent Galileo from hypothesizing, but for the next several years, he stayed away from the controversy for the Church authorities to approve and/or accept his theory. As science proved then and now, it is the Earth's rotation that gives the impression of the Sun's motion across the sky. The respect for science and philosophy were largely derived from the success, knowledge, characteristics and actions displayed by Rene Decartes and Galileo Galilei during the baroque period. Science and philosophy challenged absolutism in every form throughout the seventeenth century. The Baroque period was a successfully exceptional era that paved the way for philosophers and scientific theories of past, present and many centuries to come in the future. References Rene Descartes. (2005, November 6). Retrieved May 9, 2011, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Rene_Descartes Galileo Galilei. (2006, March 22). Retrieved May 9, 2011, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Galileo_Galilei Baroque Period. (2007, May 12). Retrieved May 9, 2011, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Baroque_period Cunningham, L. S. (2010 Custom Edition). Cultures and Values Volume II. Mason: Cenage Learning The Baroque Era (1600-1750 C.E.). (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2011, from The Baroque Era: http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar.htm'tql-iframe