Question 1

A discovery made by Galileo was the

Accepted Answer

Galileo's observations through his telescope led to the discovery that the material composition of other planets and the moon was similar to that of Earth, challenging the Aristotelian belief in a perfect, unchanging cosmos.

Question 2

The intellectuals of the Enlightenment use the word ____ to advocate for the application of the scientific method to the understanding of all life.

Accepted Answer

The intellectuals of the Enlightenment believed in the power of reason, advocating for the application of the scientific method to the understanding of all life. They believed that reason, rather than tradition or religion, was the most effective tool for gaining knowledge and improving society.

Question 3

Who proposed a heliocentric theory to explain the movement of the heavenly bodies?

Accepted Answer

Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory in his book "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres" in 1543, which challenged the prevailing geocentric theory that had been proposed by Ptolemy. Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler later provided further evidence to support the heliocentric theory.

Question 4

Who believed that individuals should be free to pursue their own economic self-interest?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who believed that individuals should be free...

Question 5

As outlined in Newton's ____, the universe is a huge, regulated machine operating according to natural laws.

Accepted Answer

The description provided specifically uses the phrase "world-machine concept," which refers to Newton's idea that the universe can be thought of as a carefully designed and regulated machine operating according to predictable and mathematically precise natural laws.

Question 6

The philosophes generally included all of the following people EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The philosophes were a group of intellectual thinkers who emerged during the Enlightenment. They included urban middle-class individuals, social reformers, professors, and journalists, but rural lower classes were not typically part of their ranks.

Question 7

The Ptolemaic view of the universe argued that

Accepted Answer

The Ptolemaic view, or geocentric model, posited that the Earth was at the center of the universe and was imperfect and motionless, with celestial bodies moving in perfect circular orbits around it.

Question 8

The philosophe who praised the checks and balances of the British constitution was

Accepted Answer

Montesquieu wrote extensively on the importance of separation of powers and checks and balances in a government system. He praised the British constitution as an example of a government that had successfully implemented these concepts.

Question 9

The most active opponents of religious intolerance and the most outspoken anti-Christians among the philosophes were

Accepted Answer

Voltaire and Diderot were both well-known for their criticisms of religious intolerance and their anti-Christian views.

Question 10

Who said that each of us is born with a tabula rasa?

Accepted Answer

John Locke, a philosopher of the 17th century, is credited with coining the phrase "tabula rasa," or blank slate, to describe the idea that each individual is born without innate knowledge or preconceived notions. This theory forms the basis of his philosophy of empiricism, which asserts that all knowledge is created through sensory experience and observation.

Question 11

Historians explain that the Scientific Revolution happened first in Europe - rather than in China -- for all of these reasons EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The other reasons listed - a shift in world view, mercantile interests, and practical applications - all contributed to the development of the Scientific Revolution in Europe. The notion of greater intellectual capacity is not a valid reason for the Scientific Revolution happening in Europe, as there is no evidence to support the assertion that Europeans were inherently more intelligent than people in other cultures. The only reason listed that is not a contributing factor is the persistence of Confucian principles in China, as this alone would not explain why the Scientific Revolution did not happen there.

Question 12

Which of these statements would John Locke find acceptable?

Accepted Answer

John Locke believed in the concept of tabula rasa, which means that individuals are born with a blank slate and are shaped by their environment and experiences. He did not believe in the idea of innate qualities or characteristics determined by genes or original sin, and instead emphasized the importance of reason in understanding the world. The statement "A positive environment will create positive results" aligns with his beliefs.

Question 13

Who advocated a doctrine that would be later be known as laissez-faire?

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith, a Scottish economist, advocated for laissez-faire economics in his book "The Wealth of Nations" in 1776.

Question 14

Who was the first scientist to define elliptical planetary orbits?

Accepted Answer

Johannes Kepler was the first scientist to define elliptical planetary orbits in his book Astronomia Nova, published in 1609.

Question 15

The intellectuals of the Enlightenment advocated the

Accepted Answer

The intellectuals of the Enlightenment believed in using the scientific method to achieve progress and improve society. They emphasized reason and rationality over traditional beliefs and superstitions. While they did not advocate for the creation of a new religion, some did believe in the importance of natural theology, which saw God's hand in the laws of science and nature. They did not promote the abandonment of reason, as this went against their emphasis on rationality and scientific thinking.

Question 16

The Catholic Church condemned the theories of ____________ because they threatened the Scriptures.

Accepted Answer

The Catholic Church condemned the theories of Copernicus and Galileo because they contradicted the traditional geocentric view of the universe and threatened the authority of the Scriptures.

Question 17

The three laws of motion that govern the planetary bodies and the objects on earth were explained by

Accepted Answer

The three laws of motion were explained by Isaac Newton in his book "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" published in 1687.

Question 18

Who asserted that the material composition of other planets and the moon was similar to that of the earth?

Accepted Answer

Galileo Galilei is credited with making this assertion based on his observations through a telescope and his understanding of the principles of physics.

Question 19

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Accepted Answer

Rousseau believed that individuals could be "forced to be free" through the collective will of the community. This means that individuals would willingly give up some of their personal liberties in order to benefit the greater good of society as a whole.

Question 20

Newton's Principia

Accepted Answer

Newton's Principia supplied the new theory of the universe that combined the work of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo. It presented the laws of motion and the universal law of gravitation, which explained how the planets moved around the sun.

Quiz 18: The West on the Eve of a New World Order