A Lecherous King, Witches, Science and Capitalism

Anglican Church

• King Henry VIII wants a divorce• Pope says no• Henry says “I’ll make my own church.” And

does.• A fun video about Henry…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fadCAHjN-s

Witches!

• People need a scapegoat in bad times– Church needs a

distracter

• 110,000 tried, 60,000 killed– 95% women: poor, old,

single or widowed

• Spreads to New England…

• Ah, Monty Python. Where would I be without you?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

Science!

• Ptolemy said the Earth was the center of the universe

• Surrounded by 8 hollow, concentric spheres– 1-7 have the observable

planets– #8 has stars– 9 is empty– Beyond is Heaven and

Hell

• Copernicus says…No• Sun is at the center• Earth and others

revolve around sun• Church not so happy

with him…

The Scientific Revolution will not be televised

• Analytic thinking comes into vogue– Johannes Kepler and Galileo • Orbits are elliptical (JK)• Telescope shows moons around Jupiter, spots on the

sun and mountains on the moon (G)– Galileo is excommunicated

– Issac Newton• Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy• The universe has laws that are measurable and

calculable…

One last thing about religion

• Deism shows up—• Fairly simple: There is a God (only one)– But Christianity is too supernatural for a rational

thinker to accept.– God set the universe in motion (like assembling

and winding a watch) and then takes no personal interest in earthly matters.

– He doesn’t need to, as the universe functions according to natural laws that make sense.

And Capitalism leads to:

• Banking!– people need a place to keep money safely– Businesses need money– So the “banking bargain” is struck and banks

flourish• Joint-Stock Companies/corporations– As a way to raise revenue, spread out risk

• Insurance companies form– Loss mitigation for corporations

Government makes it possible

• English and Dutch states – Recognize individual rights to own private

property– Enforce legal contracts– Arbitrate business disputes– Sponsor/buy into corporations that bring benefits

back to the home country– Protect claims made abroad by home country

businesses