Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

Which of the following pieces of evidence most directly challenges the claim that the Scientific Revolution was characterized by a universal change in outlook?

1. Newton's investigations into alchemy

2. The invention of the telescope

3. The emergence of the scientific method

4. Galileo's support of heliocentrism

The correct answer is: Newton's investigations into alchemy

The choice that most directly challenges the idea of a universal change in outlook during the Scientific Revolution is rooted in Newton's investigations into alchemy. While the Scientific Revolution is often seen as a time of rational inquiry and the rise of empirical sciences, Newton's deep interest in alchemy highlights the coexistence of mystical and non-empirical pursuits alongside the new scientific methodologies. This suggests that not all scientists fully embraced the rational, evidence-based approach that characterized the new scientific methods. Instead, many were still engaged in traditional forms of thought, including alchemical practices, which sought to transform base metals into gold and uncover the philosopher's stone. Such interests imply a lingering adherence to older, more esoteric frameworks of knowledge, thus challenging the notion of a uniform transition toward a strictly empirical scientific approach. The other elements, such as the invention of the telescope and the emergence of the scientific method, underscore the advancements and shifts in thought processes during this period, while Galileo's support of heliocentrism illustrates a growing acceptance of new ideas in astronomy. However, these pieces of evidence portray a more unified shift towards scientific reasoning, leaving Newton's alchemical pursuits as a notable exception that complicates the narrative of a singular change in outlook.