Hellenistic Natural Philosophy - Roots of Science - Lecture Slides, Slides of Life Sciences

Download Hellenistic Natural Philosophy - Roots of Science - Lecture Slides and more Slides Life Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! Hellenistic Natural Philosophy I. The Hellenistic World II. Schools and Education III. Four Major Philosophies IV. Mathematics V. Astronomy Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BCE) Pre Alexander: Hellenic Post Alexander: Hellenistic Docsity.com Alexandria: the new cultural capital Ptolemy’s Kingdom: Egypt Bi ecm) Questions Why is the Greek world after Alexander called “Hellenistic”? a. After Alexander’s conquests living in Greece is like living in Hell b. In tribute to Alexander’s wife, Helen c. There was a mix of cultures from the countries Alexander conquered d. Hellena in Egypt became the new cultural capital of Greece Which of the following relates to why the Sophists were so popular? a. They taught young girls how to become politicians b. The Greeks valued all knowledge c. The Greeks were very competitive d. The Greeks rejected the authority of the gods e. More than one of the answers above is possible Which of the following is correct about events that occurred after Alexander’s death? a. Athens remained the cultural center of Greece b. The Greek empire was stabilized into a single unit c. Alexander’s general competed for prestige Docsity.com III. Four Major Philosophies A. Platonic and Aristotelian B. Epicureanism: ethics most important 1. Happiness (in moderation) • the way to happiness: eliminate fear of unknown and supernatural through natural philosophy Epicurus (341 – 270) 2. Atomists (with some modification) • denial of • ruling mind • divine providence • destiny • life after death • final causes (purpose) • determinism • all is according to Chance Docsity.com III. Four Major Philosophies C. Stoicism 1. Compared to Epicureans Zeno of Citium (334 – 262 ) • Ethics number one • Happiness is the goal 2. Different from Epicureans • Achieve happiness by living in harmony with Nature • Cosmos is an organic being not mechanistic 3. Pneuma (literally: breath) • Mix of air and fire • Three forms of pneuma 1. Hexis: binds matter together 2. Physis: vital principle of plants and animals 3. Psyche: soul (organizing principle) • Purpose exists • Divine rationality creates determinism 4. The Cosmos: Eternal cycle of expansion and contraction • expansion: cosmos consumed in fire • contraction: cosmos reborn Docsity.com 3. Archimedes (287 – 212) • Method of exhaustion • Water screw • Principle of the lever • Archimedes principle Eureka! Docsity.com Questions Which of the following Greeks was least interested in applying math to Natural phenomena? a. Plato b. Archimedes c. Pythagoras d. Aristotle What did the Greeks have against pure math (as opposed to geometry)? a. Pure math had not yet been invented b. They believed it played a minor role as simply one of many parts of form c. They had problems with the aesthetics of irrational numbers d. Their number system did not allow for complex calculations An object floats in water when the weight of the water the object displaces a. is equal to the weight of the object. b. is less than the weight of the object. c. is more than the weight of the object. Docsity.com V. Astronomy A. Final Cause 1. Observation and mapping of stars - astrology 2. Creating an accurate calendar • solar year (365.24 days) and lunar month (29.5 days) don’t match • 12 – 30 day months short by 5 days • Metonic calendar (425 BCE) • 19 solar years = 235 lunar months (off by 2 hours) • 12 years of 12 months followed by 7 years of 13 months B. Plato and Eudoxus 1. Shift to planetary concentration 2. 2 sphere model 3. Ultimate goal to simplify 4. Aristotle further develops model and claims physical reality • still in use: NASA and Hebrew calendar Docsity.com E. Ptolemy (85 – 165 CE) • Geographer • Astrologer • Astronomer Flat Earth Myth Docsity.com Ptolemy's geocentric models 2. Eccentric model: works well enough for sun and moon Problem: how to reconcile circular (simplest) motion with erratic movement of planets (sun and moon included). 3. Epicycle on deferent model for other planets • epicycle = small circle • deferent = large circle • Problem: not accurate enough to predict movement or locations of planets 1. Simple circular motion doesn’t work to explain anything Docsity.com Ptolemy's geocentric models 4. Equant model • Earth off center • Planet orbits around central point (not Earth) • Problem: still doesn’t work! Doh! • Planet sweeps out equal angles in equal times from a reference point (equant point) inside the circle. 5. Solution! • Eccentric + (Deferent + epicycle) + Equant = Physical Reality (almost!) • The model of the Universe until 17th Century • Put all three together • Simplicity? Docsity.com