introduction and greek contributions introduction
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Introduction and Greek Introduction and Greek ContributionsContributions
Introduction
Purpose of the CoursePurpose of the Course Given our limitations, to understand the
reality of the universe as completely as possible.
To recognize the unbroken chain of reasoning (from early Greek to now) that has brought us to our current, cutting edge, theories of science.
To trace the development of science theory as a function of the “science tool kit” available at the time.
Our LimitationsOur Limitations
Our limited understanding of mathematics
Our limited ability to visualize and imagine difficult concepts
Our preconceptions about reality (our current paradigm, or “rose colored glasses”)
Common Themes in Common Themes in HistoryHistory Old science theories are often not discarded-
they are “swallowed whole” by new theories. Seemingly unrelated theories are eventually
unified (the elephant analogy). Humankind’s perception of the universe is
limited by the “science tool kit” available. Society helps shape science theory, and
science theory helps shape society. The quest for understanding and exposure to
new ideas can be an emotional process.
Science Tool KitScience Tool Kit Logic Geometry The concept of zero A computational
friendly numbering system
Algebra Calculus More advanced math
Tools to measure distance
Timing devices Telescopes Radiation detectors U.V. & I.R. detectors Electron microscope Cyclotrons and atom
smashers
The Greek Tool KitThe Greek Tool Kit An awkward number system composed
of some Greek letters also serving as numbers
Logic Geometry No positional decimal system No concept of zero No algebra No graphing
Egyptian ContributionsEgyptian Contributions
Superior math to the Greeks. They could add, subtract, multiply, and divide; they also had fractions and very simple algebra.
Our Julian calendar comes from Egypt: Egypt → Romans (Julius Caesar) →Us
The Babylonians- 300 B.C.The Babylonians- 300 B.C.
The base 60 number system, which we still use parts of today. This is why sixty seconds are in a minute, sixty minutes are in an hour, and 360 degrees corresponds to a full circle.
Pythagoras (582 – 507 Pythagoras (582 – 507 B.C.)B.C.)
Thales taught Pythagoras that the earth was a flat disk floating on an infinite ocean of water.
Anaximander taught Pythagoras that the earth was curved along the east-west axis.
Pythagoras was the first to teach that the earth was round.
Pythagoras TravelsPythagoras Travels In 535 B.C., he traveled to Egypt and
studied for 10 years in a temple. When Persians invaded Egypt,
Pythagoras was taken to Babylon where he learned their religion, mathematics, and music.
In 520 B.C., he returned to Greece and went to Crete for a year to study law.
Pythagoras TeachesPythagoras Teaches
Pythagoras starts a school in Samos, Greece, known as the semicircle, but he had problems.
He leaves for southern Italy and starts another school, which had much better results.
Pythagorean BeliefsPythagorean Beliefs At the deepest level, reality is
mathematical. Philosophy can be used for spiritual
purification. The soul can rise to union with the divine. Certain symbols and glyphs have mystical
meanings. Members of the order need to be held to
strict loyalty and secrecy standards.
The First Pure The First Pure MathematicianMathematician Pythagoras excelled in geometry and
mathematical proofs, inventing the phrase “a figure and a platform, not a figure and a sixpence”, which illustrates that theories may be built upon other theories like bricks.
He had a literal interpretation of operations, so squaring a number meant visualizing an actual square.
He believed that every number had a personality and a mystical meaning.
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Aristotle was a student of Plato. He was known as “the intelligence
of the school”, and later taught. He started the first “university
library,” which later became the famous Library at Alexandra.
His ideas became indisputable church dogma in the Middle Ages.
Aristotle’s BeliefsAristotle’s Beliefs He believed in four elements in a
layered formation: the core was earth, water was around the earth, air was around water, and fire was around air.
He thought that the Heavens had a different set of laws than Earth.
Earth, he believed, was changeable and corruptible.
Meanwhile, the Heavens were perfect and eternal.
Organicist View of Organicist View of UniverseUniverse With Organicism, the universe was
given human-like desires and emotions.
Objects slow down simply because they get tired.
Rocks fall to return to their proper place in Aristotle’s sphere of elements.
Bubbles and fire would also rise to return to their proper place.
Euclid (325-270 B.C.)Euclid (325-270 B.C.) Euclid was the first librarian of the
Library at Alexandria. He compiled all known Greek geometry
and math of his time into one text, known as “The Elements”.
He started with axioms and postulates and developed Euclidian Geometry– the geometry of flat surfaces, which is still taught today.
Claudius Ptolemy (85-165 Claudius Ptolemy (85-165 A.D.)A.D.) In Ptolemy’s (tol’uh-mee) book
“Almagest” (The Greatest), he refined the prevailing theory of the universe.
The theory used circles and epicycles (a circular orbit that is part of another circular orbit).
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/aristotle.html
The Theory’s 3 The Theory’s 3 AssumptionsAssumptions
The earth is the center of the universe.
All motion in the heavens is uniform and perfectly circular.
The objects in the heavens are all perfect and unchangeable- their intrinsic properties, like brightness and speed, cannot be altered.
Importance of the TheoryImportance of the Theory
It did a good job of explaining observable facts.
It had a resurgence in the early middle ages and was adopted by the Catholic church with some modifications as unchallengeable dogma.