67Chapter 7Poetry Influenced by the Scientific
Revolution
In this chapter, we plan to trace the influence, the rise of modern science
had upon the thinking in other areas of human enterprise and thought. By
the rise of modern science we are referring to the revolution in human
though brought about by Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton and their
co-workers, whom we have just finished discussing in the previous
chapter. This period of scientific work covers roughly the period 1500
to 1700.
Before the scientific revolutions of this period, thought in Europe
was dominated by religious matters. During the Middle Ages the only
order imaginable was divine order and all events were understood as a
reflection of this order.
During the Renaissance there was a shift of emphasis in which
thought became man-centered rather than strictly God-centered.
Educated people became interested in scientific knowledge but they still
place their ultimate salvation and trust in their knowledge of God.
Even the scientists, who produced the scientific revolution, including
Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton were all deeply religious men
who believed that their discoveries revealed more deeply the glory of
God. The Renaissance attitude toward science and religion is perhaps
best reflected in the poetry of John Donne, who incorporated scientific
ideas into his verse. In his poem The Ecstasy he makes use of the
concept of atoms
We then, who are this new soul, know,
of what we are compos’d, and made
For, the atomies of which we grow,
are souls, whom no change can invade.