Final answer:
Before the Scientific Revolution, explanations for natural phenomena and knowledge about the world were predominantly sought from priests and religious authorities, not through empirical evidence or scientific inquiry which became prevalent during the Enlightenment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the Scientific Revolution, people mainly looked to priests and religious figures for explanations of the natural world and our place in it. This was largely because these authorities were seen as holding the definitive knowledge on matters of existence as interpreted from religious texts and divine inspiration. Philosophical inquiry and logical reasoning existed, but empirical evidence and experimentation were not yet the primary means of acquiring knowledge. The Enlightenment, inspired by scientific advancements, marked a shift towards a rational and empirical approach to understanding the universe, as thinkers like Newton demonstrated that the cosmos operated according to universal and unchanging laws, driving humanity to reevaluate many established doctrines and ideas from a new, more critical perspective.