Lecture 1: Intro Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Lecture 1: Intro Deck (10)
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1
Q

“Scientist” ?

A

Comes from “knowledge”. But prior to 1800’s, “Natural Philosophers” who concerned themselves with the truth and wisdom IN NATURE. No politics, morals, experiments.

2
Q

“Triumphalism”

A

Science is preordained, we only need to find it. It’s inevitable that reason (us, today) triumphs or irrationalism.

3
Q

Introduce me to Babylon

A

~1360’s, was part of Mesopotania.

  • Very literate
  • strict laws (Stellae, and BIRTH OF CIVIL CODE).
  • Had centres for learning math, science.

Above all, they were excellent record keepers (using cuneiforms).

4
Q

Babylonian Astronomy?

A
  • Known for their ability to predict.
  • Look up tables + math = useful for crop timings, festivals, seasons, tides.

Interested in how the heavenly bodies changed Earth (e.g. Moon and tides)
-> but no physical model of heavens.

5
Q

Babylonian Numbers

A

Base 60 -> many factors, good when no decimals.

  • > important for trade
  • > 30 day moon cycle, 12 zodiacs, helps agriculture
  • > we keep our B60 time

No 0, just ‘ ‘ or ‘//’

6
Q

Egypt

A

Focused on Astronomy, Agriculture.
->floods drought harvest plant
Created our calendar
->30 day months, 5 month-less party days
No systematic method or physical
->records and practical skills, no theory
->many “rule of thumb” skills
->no how/why of the world
->God, Religion? no link to their knowledge

7
Q

Why is Greece different?

A

The how and why, the value research

->who cares if it isn’t practical

8
Q

Who is the “father of science” and why?

A

Thales of Miletus, for differentiating appearance and reality

  • > must use speculation to see what they are
  • > identify the cause, the underlying knowledge
9
Q

What is Thales’ core belief? How do we know what he believed?

A

All is water.

  • > e.g. water, fog, it’s all one state
  • > can transition (gold melts, wood burns)

We have no records, only what Aristotle said he did.
->While Aristotle’s interpretation is literally “you are all water”, Thales might have been figurative

10
Q

What do we know of Thales’ character?

A

Two stories (who knows if true) showing arrogance

  • > “so much knowledge but you’re not rich”
    • > predicts olive boon and gets rich
  • > Falls into well
    • > seen as out to lunch, values theoretical even at detriment of practicality