Final answer:
Isaac Newton's approach to knowledge was based on reason and provided a reasonable and scientific explanation of the universe in his work, establishing the foundations for the modern scientific era and altering the course of scientific thought. The correct answer is option B.
Step-by-step explanation:
Isaac Newton, renowned for his monumental work in the sciences, asserted that knowledge was based on reason. His pivotal book, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, revolutionized how the physical universe was understood, transitioning thought from the Renaissance period to the modern era. This work, published in 1687, laid down a reasonable model to explain the universe's workings, a model grounded in scientific principles and excluding church doctrine or faith.
Newton's contributions extended to the laws of motion, the law of gravity, calculus, as well as theories in optics and light. His methodologies and scientific laws still apply today and are seen as a tremendous leap forward in understanding motion and gravity. Newton's work provided a predictable and unified view of the universe, changing the very nature of scientific inquiry and knowledge at the time.