Intellectual Revolution vs.

Scientific Revolution

Frontlearners Module (2019) defined Intellectual Revolutions as the

historical changes in thoughts, beliefs, and social institutions due to new ideas
and principles like Copernican, Darwinian, and Freudian. It may also refer to the
historical period when science became more important and influential during
the Middle Ages. Intellectual Revolution also considered a golden age in the
history of science because it marked the birth of science as a discipline wherein
many scientific ideas and discoveries were developed. Meanwhile, Frontlearners
Module (2019) cited that when science and technology are the centers of an
intellectual revolution, it can be called then as a Scientific Revolution.

Some Intellectuals Who Made Essential Contributions in Science during the

Period of Scientific Revolutions:

 Nicholas Copernicus (Copernican) – developed a model of the universe

in which everything moved around a single center at unvarying rates. He
placed the sun in the center of the universe, and all the planet were
surrounding or orbiting it. Copernicus’ Model of planets orbiting around
the sun automatically positioned the planets into a logical sequence
[Ang, R., Cruz, J., et al. (2018)].

Heliocentric Model – adopted to used to prove the idea that the sun is
the center of the solar system.

 Charles Darwin (Darwinian) - His theory of evolution by natural

selection (process) is instrumental in many fields until now. Content of
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. All organisms are related and have
descended from a common ancestor. Variation in a population helps
different species to survive. The animals that do survive and reproduce
are better-adapted organisms (survival of the fittest). A random genetic
mutation occurs within an organism's genetic code, aid survival [Ang, R.,
Cruz, J., et al. (2018)].

 Sigmund Freud (Freudian) - developed the idea of psychoanalysis that

helped in understanding human behavior, especially neurological
conditions. Human actions result from the interactions among three
parts of the mind: id, ego, and superego [Ang, R., Cruz, J., et al. (2018)].
  Id – part of the personality that is present at birth; primitive
personality existed within unconscious.

 Super ego - include the ideas of right and wrong acquired from
society and the culture. Overpower the urges of the id and tries
to make the ego morally, rather than realistically. Composed of
people's internalized ideals acquired from parents and society.

 Ego – less primitive than the Id, partly conscious and

unconscious. It facilitates the demands of the Id, superego and
reality. - It prevents people from acting on the basic urges
created by the id and works to balance their moral and idealistic
standards created by the superego.

Information Revolution

Accompanied the history of mankind and began as early as 3000 BC with

Sumerian Pictographs. - Triggers profound changes both in the way of lives and,
in a way, perceive the self as human beings[Ang, R., Cruz, J., et.al (2018)].

Milestone on Information Revolution are:

o 1455, Johannes Gutenberg’s invention on printing press.

o Early 1830s, Charles Babbage worked on Analytical Engine.

o During 1870s, Invention of the first telephone.

o During World War II, Alan Turing refining the concept of algorithms and
computation using the Turing Machine. He contributed to the Turing test
concerning the possibility of developing a conscious and thinking
machine in Artificial Intelligence.

Science provided different ancient civilizations the means to survive and

understand the natural and physical world. Helped humans to develop various
technologies used in everyday tasks. Cited below are some ancient civilizations
and their significant contributions that defined the society [Ang, R., Cruz, J., et.al
(2018)].

Mesoamerican Civilization
- Located in the region and cultural area in the Americas - Contributed
greatly in agriculture ( as early as 7000 BC)
 - Transition from hunter-gatherer tribal groupings to the organization of
sedentary agricultural villages.

- Main food sources were beans, corns, & squash (a triad of products
known as the “three sisters”; introduce the rotational crops and slash-
and-burn aided in retaining the nutrients in the soil.

- Value cacao as an essential crop because it is used as a trade currency

and in rituals.

- Cotton plant & rubber trees used for making culturally significant
products like textile (vibrant colors) and rubber balls (used in
performance games) due to ritual significance.

- Created chinampas (plots of mud and soil placed on top layers of thick
water vegetation)

- First, to use irrigation techniques.

- First one to create calendar (like civil calendar or Haab and Tzolkin
Calendar).

Asian Civilization

- Asia bore 2 of the world’s great early civilizations: From India & China

- Birth of the two world’s known religion: Hinduism & Buddhism.

- In Hinduism, based on Vedas (4 sacred books; believed written by Aryan
People); People believed to be divided into a “caste system”; Priests
called

- Brahmans (ranked highest) and the “untouchables” as lowest.

- In Buddhism, praise Buddha (meaning “The Enlightened One”) who is in

the person of Siddharta Gautama (believed that human greed and
selfishness lead to human pain).

- Another religion Confucianism, developed along the Huang Ho riverbank

in Northern China, based on the teaching of Confucius.

- Created the Great Wall of China, built to protect from invasions of

“barbarians” from other parts of Asia.

Middle East Civilization

- Considered as the home to the “Cradle of Civilization” (seen world’s oldest

culture and civilization).

- First to practice intensive year-round agriculture and currency-mediated

trade as opposed to barter.

- Gave the rest of the world the first writing system.

- Laying the foundation for astronomy and mathematics.

- Created the first generalized government and law codes.

- Invented the clay cylinder seals (on which little pictures of objects could
be recorded.

- Early writings evolved from pictures baked on clay tablets.

African Civilization

- According to some historians, Africans were nothing more than savages

whose only contributions to the world were farming and slaves.

- Lineage and culture of achievements emerged at least 40,000 years ago

in Africa. Some were the following:

 Developed modern concepts in mathematics like the first method of

counting.
 People in present-day Zaire and Yoruba (now Nigeria) developed
Numeration system 8,000 years ago.

 In the Yoruba, the system lauded this system because it required

much abstract reasoning. African Stonehenge (in present-day Kenya)
constructed around 300 BC the remarkably accurate calendar.

 Meanwhile, Dogon people of Mali have various astronomical

discoveries like Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moon, the spiral structure of
the Milky Way, and the orbit of the Sirius Star.

 They built great architectural Monuments along the Nile like Great
Pyramid of Giza, Great Sphinx of Giza, great cities like in Zimbabwe &
 Mozambique (made of massive stone complex and huge castle-like
compounds existed).

 The Empire of Mali boasted impressive cities, including Tumbuktu

with grand palaces, mosques & UNIVERSITIES in the 13th century.

 In Medicine, some practices were: use of plants with salicylic acid for
pain, kaolin for diarrhea, and extracts that confirmed to kill Gram-
Positive bacteria.

 Other plants used had anticancer properties, caused abortion, and

treated malaria.

 Some medical procedures performed in ancient Africa: Vaccination,

autopsy, limb traction and broken bone setting, bullet removal, brain
surgery, skin grafting, filling of dental cavities, installation of false
teeth, anesthesia and tissue cauterization.

References

Ang, R., Cruz, J., et. al. 2018. Science, Technology and Society. Muntinlupa City:
Panday-Lahi Publishing House, Inc.

Alata, E.J., Pawilen, G.,et.al. 2018. Science, Technology and Society. First Edition.
Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

https://frontlerners.com/blended/ 4/20/2020
 Assessing Learning

Activity 4 Name: _
Course/Year/Section:

Date: Score: _

Directions: One of the focus of intellectual revolution is to highlight the different

scientific ideas that define the present society. Have you ever asked yourself
about the relationship of science and society? With this, answer briefly the
following questions by writing on spaces provided: (5 points each)

1. As student, how do you see connection between science and society?

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2. How science shaped the society?

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3. Cite two (2) scientific ideas that defined our society.

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