The omnipotent church influenced the work of scientists through the pope and the Scriptures. In Copernicus’s …show more content…
A letter written by Marin Mersenne to his noble patron stated, “... you will not find a single word that is not true in my experiments, which many times confirm those of the great Galileo… I am assured my experiments have been repeated… some more than 100 times, before reliable witnesses, all who agree with my conclusions,” (Doc 4), regarding his book. Mersenne’s confidence in Galileo’s discoveries was clearly expressed through the letter. During that time, Galileo improved upon the experimental method by suggesting that instead of speculating the results, an individual should perform controlled experiments, developing inductive reasoning. With the endorsement of other people, scientists therefore became more encouraged and inspired to discover new information. Not only monks and the commoners, but also monarchs like Louis XIV showed appreciation for the sciences. A drawing illustrated during 1671 captured Louis XIV’s visit to the French Royal Academy, which showed a room filled with observers around scientific equipment like a skeletons, a map, and a globe, (Doc 7). The illustration implied that Louis XIV supported the study of sciences by visiting one of the academies. With assistance from powerful and wealthy monarchs, scientists were allowed the opportunity to produce quality observations and findings due to the financial help. By Louis …show more content…
In John Calvin’s Commentaries on the First Book of Moses (Genesis), he explained, “This study should not be prohibited… For astronomy is not only pleasant, but also very useful: it cannot be denied that is this art unfolds the admirable wisdom of God,” (Doc2). Due to his strong passion for the sciences, Calvin defended the study. Since universities prohibited the study of certain complex sciences, scientists earned motivation to continue their work in order to prove that the information that the information is beneficial. John Calvin proposed that astronomy was very useful for it was a form of art that allowed students to understand the wisdom of God, therefore it should be encouraged instead of prohibited. Thomas Hobbes also expressed passion by defending geometry. In Leviathan, Hobbes wrote, “The doctrine of what is right and wrong is perpetually disputed by the pen and by the sword but geometry is not… it affects no one’s ambition, profit, or lust… I know it would be suppressed,” (Doc 5). Hobbes clarified that geometry is being ignored even though it was harmless. The ignorance of the people affected scientists who valued the forgotten which caused them to become more engaged and involved in order to spread the new information. Thomas Hobbes argued that geometry was not focused on due to its multiple possibilities and complex concepts, unlike literature and