The leaders of the scientifc revolution built their theorems and methods on

the knowledge of the past. The cosmology of Aristotle the theories of

Pythagoras, Ptolemy and Aristarchus. However during the dawn of the
scientifc revolution it was not the scientifc methods nor the accuracy with
which these theories were thought to have been accepted. Nor was it the
ideological challenges of these ideas amongst the literati the Church and
the State but all of these things in concert that led men like Copernicus and
Newton to challenge the accepted wisdom. Nearly a thousand years had
passed with no signifcant new discoveries in the feld of astronomy. A
direct result of the afore- mentioned reasoning and the fear of persecution.
Copernicus labored on with his research pouring over countless formulae
and data to sustain his fndings. His work was that of supporting what had
already been suggested by Aristarchus and Ptolemy. The heliocentric
nature of our galaxy and the orbits of the planets were proven by
Copernicus's research in great detail but he could not lay claim to a new
scientifc revolution, nor was his theory of heliocentrics entirely accurate
since he failed to describe the correct orbits of the planets. In fact if it were
not for the discoveries of Brahe, a danish scientist and founder of the frst
real astronomical observatory, the contributions of Copernicus would have
been no more than a side note in history.
Only Newton could be credited with starting a scientifc revolution during
the age of enlightenment. His methodology and universal application of all
the sciences through mathematic principles rang in the Age of Reason.
Newtons theories set forth in his landmark publication Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy in 1687 are testament to his research
methods and his brand of rational thought was a perfect example of things
to come. The publication of this work was enormously signifcant at the
time, especially given Newtons aversion to publishing his fndings. His
unwillingness to publish his fndings even led to a controversy regarding the
invention of calculus. Newton invented it before Liebniz but had failed to
publish the fndings before Liebniz . History has credited both of them as
having arrived at this conclusion independent of each other rather than
giving credit to one or the other. All of Newtons most important work is in
the Principia Mathematica as it was later called.
Principia I
In the frst volume of his Principia he spells out the three laws of motion
which deals with Inertia, action, reaction and acceleration proportional to
force.
1. Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight
line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.
2. The change of motion is proportional to the motive force impressed and
is made in the direction of the straight line in which that force is impressed.
[Here, the impressed force equals mass times the rate of change of
velocity, i.e., acceleration. Hence the familiar formula, F = ma.]
3. To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction; or, the mutual
action of two bodies upon each other is always equal and directed to
contrary parts.
Principia II
His second part of the Principia dealt with the presentation of his new
scientifc philosophy which came to replace Cartesian philosophy in
Newtons own thinking. He disproves the idea that light is part of the air.
Demonstrating that light in the universe comes from the sun. Later in his
publication of Optics he calculates the distance of the sun and the speed of
light coming to the conclusion that light takes 6.5 minutes to arrive on earth
from the distant center of the galaxy. He also calculated the eliptical orbits
of the planets and explained the movements of the tides based on the
gravitational pull of the moon in orbit around the earth. All of his theories
were based on precise calculations. His methods became a general model
for all the sciences . Later on Newtons way of thinking would tear the roof
of of conventional thought and bridge the gap between all of the sciences.
The ancient greeks had until then treated math and science as separate
entities each of which required a diferent and completely separate means.
Newton built his methods based on logic and reasoning as well as
observation as we note in his use of experimental procedures used frst by
Gallileo. He was the frst to describe and systematize their use.
Newtons discoveries infuenced everyone and created a spirit of revolution
that transcended calculus physics and astronomy. This infuence can be
seen in the words of the Scotch poet James Thomson in his Newtonian
poem The Seasons "Summer".Where he describes Newtons theories of
light and the eliptical curve of optics and how light is bent in it's trajectory
through space. This was all taken from Newtons Optics published in 1704.
Spirituality was present in the work of Newton. He experimented with
prisms to prove that all the light in the universe could be channeled
prompting some to ask can that light be channeled within to light the
darkness present in the human mind. In the second part of his Principia
he outlines the role of God and describes the divinity inside of every living
thing.
Principia III
"In bodies, we see only their fgures and colours, we hear only the sounds,
we touch only their outward surfaces, we smell only the smells, and taste
the savours; but their inward substances are not to be known either by our
senses, or by any refex act of our minds: much less, then, have we any
idea of the substance of God. "
-----Sir
Isaac Newton, Principia Mathematica
The radical simplicity of his rules and laws regarding motion, had wide
appeal in England and later in France. Most importantly he set forth the
principles of the new scientifc revolution to come in four basic points
outlined in his Principia adhered to by scholars and scientists to this day.
These edicts would also be the commandments of a new age and the
treatise for philosophers, artists thinkers of the time. Spawning revolutions
in it's wake .
Reference:
http://www.credoreference.com.library.esc.edu/entry.do?id=829207
Sir Isaac Newton, Principia Mathematica 1687 Cambridge
Sir Isaac Newton, Optics 1704
The Portable Enlightenment Reader, Edited by Isaac Kramnick Penguin
Books
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/newton.htm