The evolution of Don Quixote in part two of the novel has been viewed through countless lenses, yet no one has examined how our anachronistic knight-errant transforms himself into an innovative natural philosopher of his era. In fact, Don Quixote shares essential characteristics with three great astronomers of the Scientific Revolution: Nicholas Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei. In four important episodes in part two of Don Quixote—his encounter with Dulcinea (2.10), his descent into the Cave of Montesinos (2.22–24), his journey on the enchanted boat (2.29), and his flight on Clavileño (2.41)—the protagonist applies the scientific method, which was emerging in the 17th century and is the accepted standard today. Moreover, Don Quixote's deathbed renunciation of chivalric novels should be considered a scientific substitution of written authorities prompted by empirical observations made throughout the second part.
