- Andrew Celsius: Invented measurement of temperature - Celsius.
- Aristotelian World View: Motionless earth was fixed at center of universe, God was beyond.
- Candide: Voltaire, satirizing society and organized religion in Europe.
- Carl Linnaeus: System Nature- developed methods to classify and name plants and animals.
- Deductive Reasoning: Descartes, doubt everything and use deductive reasoning. Reasoning based on facts. Combined with empiricism to create scientific method.
- Deism: God built the Universe and let it run. Clockmaker theory.
- Descartes: (1596-1650) French philosopher, discovered analytical geometry. Saw Algebra and Geometry have a direct relationship. Reduced everything to spiritual or physical.
- Discourse on Methods: Descartes (1677) espoused deductive reasoning.
- Discourses on the Origins of Inequalities: Rousseau, discuss the innocence of man and his corruption by society.
- Empiricism: Bacon's theory of inductive reasoning.
- Enlightened despot: Enlightened ruler. Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great.
- Essay Concerning Human Understanding: Written by Locke, tabula rasa theory.
- Francis Bacon: (1561-1626)English politician, writer. Formalized the empirical method. Novum Organum. Inductive reasoning.
- Gabriel Fahrenheit: Developed measurement of temperature with freezing at 32 degrees.
- Galileo Galilei: Created modern experimental method. Formulated the law of inertia. Tried for heresy and forced to recant. Saw Jupiter’s moons. Wrote Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World
- Geocentric Theory: Earth is the center of the universe. Aristotelian.
- Gresham College: Located in England. Leading place for the advancement of science. First time scientists had a honored roll in society; center of scientific activity.
- Heliocentric Theory: Sun is the center of the universe. Coperican
- Humanitarianism: Promoting human welfare and social reform.
- Inductive Reasoning: Baconian empiricism. Based speculations on other situations.
- Isaac Newton: English scientist. 3 Laws of motion. Mathematics Principal of Natural Philosophy (1687).
- Montesquieu: French philosophe. Wrote The Spirit of Laws. Said "Power checks power". Separation of powers. Form of government varies according to climate.
- Natural Law: Universal law that could be understood by applying reason; letting people govern themselves.
- Nicolaus Copernicus: (1473-1543) Polish clergyman. Sun was the center of the universe; the planets went around it. On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres. Destroyed Aristotle's view of the universe - heliocentric theory.
- Ptolemy’s System: Last great ancient astronomer; there was a place for God. Complicated rules used to explain minor irregularities in the movement of the planets.
- Robert Boyle: (1627-1691) Physicist, nothing can be known beyond all doubt.
- Rococo: Art style that focuses on pastels, ornate interiors, and sentmental portraits.
- Second Treatise of Government: Written by Locke, Government created to protect life, liberty, and property.
- The Royal Society of London: Established by Charles II in 1662; purpose to help the sciences.
- The Social Contract: Rousseau, suggestions in reforming the political system and modeled after the Greek polis.
- The Spirit of Laws: Montesquieu, about separation of powers.
- Tycho Brahe: (1546-1601) Established himself as Europe's foremost astronomer of his day; detailed observations of new star of 1572.
- Voltaire: French, perhaps greatest Enlightenment thinker. Deist. Mixed glorification and reason with an appeal for better individuals and institutions. Wrote Candide. Believed enlightened despot best form of government.
- William Harvey: Englishman who announced blood circulates throughout the body.