Notes on chapters 1-2

• The period of history known as 'modern', differs from that of the medival period.
  The two main ones are the diminishing authority of the church and the increasing authority of science.
• The culture is different in 'modern times'
• States replace the church which controls culture.
• The state has less influence on the opinions of philosophers than the church had in the middle ages
• Feudal aristocracy in the 15th century loses its political and economic importance. (replaced by kings)
• In the Renaissance, science played a very small part
• The 1st serious irruption of science was the publication of the Copernican Theory in 1543
  This theory was taken seriously when it was taken up and improved by Kepler and Galileo. (17th century)
• Unlike the body of Catholic dogma, science does not lay down a complete system, covering human morality, human hopes and the past and future history of the universe.
  It pronounces only on whatever, at the time, appears to have been scientifically ascertained.
• The pronouncements of science are made tentatively on the basis of probaility and are liable to modification.
• Theoretical science is and attempt to understand the world and Practical science is an attempt to change it.
• Galileo and Leonardo obtained government employment by their claim to improve artillery and the art of fortification.
• The triumph of science is mainly due to its practical utility.
• Until the 17th century, there was nothing of importance in philosophy.
• Modern philosophy has retained an individualistic and subjective tendancy.
• The five important States in Italy were Milan, Venice, Florence, the Papal Domain and Naples.
• The Medici family became rulers of Florence from around 1389 till 1737.
• During the Renaissance Florence was the most civilized city in the world.
• Alexander VI was the pope from (1492-1503) and was the father to the Duke of Gandia and more favourably Caesar Borgia. Together they conquered Romagna & Ancona. Caesar Borgia was known to have killed his brother but it was never confirmed or know as fact.
• France tried to invade Milan & Naples in 1502 with temporary success, but were ultimatley defeated by Spain. The spanish victory put an end to the Italian Renaissance.
• Cosimo & Lorenzo dei Medici were both addicted to Plato. Cosimo founded the Florentine Academy, which was dedicated to the study of Plato which Lorenzo continued.
Caesar Borgia
My thoughts on chapters 1-2 are that it seems to me that the Italian Renaissance was a breath of fresh air, in many ways for Italy. Because before the Renaissance, Italy was pretty much run by the church, which made people very much narrow minded. But when the Medici family came to power, because of there love for art, philosophy & Plato they incouraged people to think outside the box in a way. Also people like Michaelangelo, Galileo, leonardo & Descartes only helped to influence the movement which was the Renaissance.
Also the corruption of some of the popes in that erra, such as AlexanderVI didnt help the church to regain power. I also think that the increasing popularity of science helped the Renaissance & even though there was nothing of to much importance in Philosophy till the 17th century, the Renaissance was still the beggining of it in many ways & therfore held importance.   

Michaelangelo