Final answer:
The 'big four' of the Scientific Revolution are not strictly defined but would likely include scientists like Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton. Isaac Newton is known for the phrase 'standing on the shoulders of giants,' indicating that his work was possible due to preceding scholars' contributions. These Scientific Revolution principles significantly influenced the Enlightenment thinkers' work.
Step-by-step explanation:
'The Big Four' of the Scientific Revolution
The term 'big four' in the context of the Scientific Revolution does not refer to a specific group of four individuals universally agreed upon. However, if one were to list some key figures from this period, names like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton would often be cited for their groundbreaking work in astronomy and physics that fundamentally changed the way we understand our universe.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
The phrase 'standing on the shoulders of giants' was made famous by Isaac Newton when he wrote it in a letter to his fellow scientist Robert Hooke in 1676. By this, Newton meant that his discoveries were built upon the knowledge and work of great thinkers before him. He acknowledged that his achievements were only made possible because of the intellectual groundwork laid by his predecessors.
Influence on the Enlightenment
The principles of the Scientific Revolution such as the emphasis on observation and rationality greatly influenced the Enlightenment. Thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu carried forward the spirit of critical examination and rational thought in their philosophies regarding society, government, and human nature, contributing to an era that emphasized individual rights, representative government, and scientific reasoning.