Question Western Civilization Respond to initial post: 

Western Civilization

Respond to initial post:

The Scientific Revolution changed the way the West understood the world around us, particularly in astronomy. Copernicus led to Galileo, and the heliocentric model replaced the geocentric solar system that for centuries was considered scientific fact. When it comes to science, how important was this development? And how important is it for us to continue to question and rethink the world around us to better understand it?

Respond to Peer posts:

I think that when it comes to science, development is very important. Everything evolves, nothing stays the same. Copernicus’ ideas was reinforced when Galileo Galilei claimed in 1632, 100 years later that the Earth orbited the sun. Galileo found himself under house arrest for committing heresy against the Catholic Church.  He lived in a time when you did not challenge the Catholic Church. Today we know that the two men were correct in their understanding of the motion of celestial bodies, Heliocentric Solar system.  It is very important to continue to question and rethink the world around us. Let’s take Pluto for example, in 1930 Pluto was considered a planet.  In 2006, Pluto was relegated to “dwarf-planet” status by the International Astronomical Union. Now, some scientists say that Pluto should be back in the solar system. I guess we will have to wait and see!

Peer Post 2:

The development of changing the solar system from geocentric to a heliocentric was very important because at a time when they did not have a lot of technology they were able to make such an incredible finding. I think that it was also important because it allowed for future scientists to question other theories that the church had created but were not evidence-based. This was a major discovery that changed the way everything was looked at. Things that were not man-made, natural, were now questioned as to how they existed and why they existed the way they did. I think that it was incredibly huge and important to make this development because it has brought us to where we are now, religion is no longer the explanation as to why things occur, we now have the evidence to back-up and support the everyday natural things on earth. Also, it took away that idea that Earth is the reason why other planets exist, it gave us the humility to understand that there are other planets and we are all at the mercy of the sun. It is very important for us to continue questioning things because that is how we learn about our Earth and how we can take care of it. Many of the animals that have gone extinct because of the human race could’ve probably been saved if we knew their importance in the food chain and the ecosystem.

Resources to be used:

http://historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html