Pols 2006
Social Theories of Modernity
Week 2, Insert 3 – Introducing the
Scientific Revolution
, The beliefs of the ‘moderns’
• If you do nothing else to prepare for the next module, I want to at least
think about the following:
• Today most people believe that the sun is at the center of our solar syste
and that the earth, just like the other planets, revolves around it. We
believe this, and would claim to know it for sure even though everyday w
see the sun crossing our sky. Indeed, our sense of certainty in a sun
centered solar system is so deeply set that if I were to try to convince yo
of something different you would no doubt email my HoD to have me
committed on the basis that I must be insane…
• Just a few hundred years ago, however, people faced being put to death
for saying this…
Social Theories of Modernity
Week 2, Insert 3 – Introducing the
Scientific Revolution
, The beliefs of the ‘moderns’
• If you do nothing else to prepare for the next module, I want to at least
think about the following:
• Today most people believe that the sun is at the center of our solar syste
and that the earth, just like the other planets, revolves around it. We
believe this, and would claim to know it for sure even though everyday w
see the sun crossing our sky. Indeed, our sense of certainty in a sun
centered solar system is so deeply set that if I were to try to convince yo
of something different you would no doubt email my HoD to have me
committed on the basis that I must be insane…
• Just a few hundred years ago, however, people faced being put to death
for saying this…
