...western, this is the only theory that we have known till we came to this class, according to his theory all the sciences that we know originated in the hands of the westerners or the “whites”. This theory is the one that has been spread and supported by the westerners to gain and maintain the soft power from the history of science. According to this theory all the theoretical and philosophical foundations of all the sciences we know were done by the Greek philosophers during their time, Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Socrates are given the credit for most of these things. Then came the Dark Age and during which nothing much happened and then came the days of the Renaissance during which the European countries took initiative and did major contributions to science by doing the practical applications and proving the philosophical concepts of the Greek philosophers. These include the works of people like Einstein and Newton. This theory is the theory which is supported by the western textual sources and sources like Wikipedia. The alternative theory provided to us by Professor CK Raju, which says is that the Origins of western history of science and not Greek. According to this theory all sciences are universal and if so it does not make for all of them to be found and discovered by one very small group of people. This theory is much more realistic and easy to believe then the one we have been following and I would choose this theory over the Wikipedia theory to be the...
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...If I say Ancient Egypt most people would think Pyramid, mummies, maybe even the Nile River. There is obviously is more than that. There is the location, how they governed their people, what they did to make money just to name a few. There also is how everyday life functioned, what religion people worshipped and the big ones how long did they last and what did that empire accomplish while in power. So let’s dive right in. Ancient Egypt stretched from the Asia Minor all the way to Nubia. Egypt’s natural borders to the north is the Mediterranean Sea, to the South the first Contract. Western borders are the western desert and the Libyan Desert, to the East is the eastern desert or the Red Sea. The Nile River runs through Ancient Egypt. The...
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...Compare and contrast essay: Ancient Egypt and Greece The ancient Egyptian and ancient Greek civilizations are two of the oldest known civilizations in our history. The Egyptian civilization, based in the eastern part of North Africa, is believed to have started around 3150 BC and continued till the end of the Pharaoh rule in 31 BC. The ancient Greek civilization is believed to have been in effect from 1100 BC till about 146 BC. Many similarities and differences existed between these two civilizations, as even though they co-existed during a certain timeframe (1150 BC to 146 BC), they were located in different geographical areas. Because of these differences in geography, both these civilizations were subjected to different kinds of exposure, which included contact with other civilization and cultural inheritance. In the political sphere, we find that the Egyptian civilization had stronger emphasis on central authority, while the Greeks had a more decentralized structure, where powers were distributed over the cities and the states as well. As far as art is concerned, we find that the Egyptians were more involved in creating great monumental and gaudy structures, while the Greeks were more involved in creating smaller, more literary pieces of art. One of the biggest reasons why these two civilizations had these differences is due to their geography. The Egyptians had easy access to large stones that they could bring in to their country and use them to erect such monumental...
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...Could you imagine the whole United States just disappearing? That is what happened to the Mayans. In a time span of only one hundred years the whole Maya population was wiped out, there are several theories about what the cause for this decline was. What anthropologists do know for sure is that the Mayans were an ancient mesoamerican civilization dating back to 250 B.C “made up of more than 19 million people”(smithsonian.com). Their empire centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala. The Maya people reached their peak of power around the 6th century A.D. The Mayans were successful in many ways; History.com, a website dedicated to informing the public about important historical information, states, “The Maya excelled at agriculture,...
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...Curiosity of a mankind toward heavens is as old as human civilization itself, if not older. We can find evidence of this fascination all over the world. During studying of my textbook I have realize that from dawn of time civilizations were attempting to map the stars. Some used obtained knowledge and applied it to more practical means such as farming and sea navigation. Some civilizations such Egyptians or Aztecs would use knowledge of the cycles of solar eclipses as political means, since they appeared to command the sun they would control it people. However, with every new discovery came more questions about the universe. With mere size of the universe, one might come to realization of amount of time required for its comprehension. Hundreds if not thousands of astronomers throughout the ages added some valuable pieces of information to astronomical big picture. As Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin brilliantly putted in her 1976 speech " [...] The old scientist cannot claim that the masterpiece is his own work. He may have roughed of part of the design, laid on a few strokes , but he has learned to accept the discoveries of others with the same delight that he experienced on his own[...] (Astronomy Today, Chap. 16, p 383) What we know today about the universe is a collective work of many generation of dedicated man and woman who continue to add new insight of astronomy great spectrum of universe. Some scholars may add a little, some may add a lot, yet some may change our understanding...
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...Physics (from Ancient Greek: φυσική (ἐπιστήμη) phusikḗ (epistḗmē) "knowledge of nature", from φύσις phúsis "nature"[1][2][3]) is the natural science that involves the study of matter[4] and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force.[5] One of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, the main goal of physics is to understand how the universe behaves.[a][6][7][8] Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy.[9] Over the last two millennia, physics was a part of natural philosophy along with chemistry, biology, and certain branches of mathematics, but during the scientific revolution in the 17th century, the natural sciencesemerged as unique research programs in their own right.[b] Physics intersects with many interdisciplinary areas of research, such as biophysics and quantum chemistry, and the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other sciences[6] while opening new avenues of research in areas such as mathematics and philosophy. Physics also makes significant contributions through advances in new technologies that arise from theoretical breakthroughs. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear...
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...MATHEMATICS has played a significant role in the development of Indian culture for millennia. Mathematical ideas that originated in the Indian subcontinent have had a profound impact on the world. Swami Vivekananda said: ‘you know how many sciences had their origin in India. Mathematics began there. You are even today counting 1, 2, 3, etc. to zero, after Sanskrit figures, and you all know that algebra also originated in India.’ It is also a fitting time to review the contributions of Indian mathematicians from ancient times to the present, as in 2010, India will be hosting the International Congress of Mathematicians. This quadrennial meeting brings together mathematicians from around the world to discuss the most significant developments in the subject over the past four years and to get a sense of where the subject is heading in the next four. The idea of holding such a congress at regular intervals actually started at The Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. This exhibition had sessions to highlight the advancement of knowledge in different fields. One of these was a session on mathematics. Another, perhaps more familiar to readers of Prabuddha Bharata, was the famous Parliament of Religions in which Swami Vivekananda first made his public appearance in the West. Following the Chicago meeting, the first International Congress of Mathematicians took place in Zurich in 1897. It was at the next meeting at Paris in 1900 that Hilbert...
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...the Americas before explorers such as Christopher Columbus discovered it, there exists rich literature of ancient civilizations that have shaped all spheres of modern life. The most recognized civilizations include the Egyptian civilization, the Roman Empire, and the Greek civilization. The fall of one civilization led to the rise of another civilization and so forth. The earliest recorded civilization, however, is the Egyptian civilization and scholars have credited it with influencing the subsequent empires that rose afterward, especially Alexander's the Great Greece Empire...
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...as the themes relate to Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Ancient Egyptian, Archaic Greek, Aegean Civilization and Classical Greek periods. The writer will determine how the theme is reflected in the cultural and world developments from these time periods. The writer will also compare and contrast the development of the theme of the different time periods to modern day time. Artistic Themes Artistic themes of Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Ancient Egyptian, Archaic Greek/Aegean Civilization, and Classical Greek Periods The time periods of Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Ancient Egyptian, Archaic Greek, Aegean Civilization, and Classical Greek are different from the modern day period. Each time period had its own way of doing certain things. For example, each time period had its own idea of work. Work from each of these time periods was performed in different ways. The writer will explore work as it relates to the time periods of Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Ancient Egyptian, Archaic Greek, Aegean Civilization, and Classical Greek. The writer will determine how work is reflected in the cultural and world developments from the time periods also compare and contrast the development of work within the historic time periods while relating past attitudes to modern attitudes. Prehistoric There are no written records from prehistoric times. Information from prehistoric time is only reported from certain fields of study such as geology, astronomy, and archaeology (Chisholm, 1983). Prehistoric animals...
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...stars in the galaxy. They are made out of dust clouds dispersed throughout space. Did you know that stars don’t twinkle? It’s the turbulence in the sky that makes the stars appear like they are blinking. Since the dawn of recorded civilization, stars have been important to us throughout the world. They have been used for navigation, agriculture and even for religious reasons. There are also 58 important stars that are used by aviators and navigators worldwide. Have you ever heard about constellation myths? They are ancient stories about the gods, heroes, and mythological creatures (serpents, dragons etc…) featured in the constellations. Greeks and Romans created the stories for the constellation in the Northern Hemisphere, and for a petty in the Southern Hemisphere that they could sometimes see, near the horizon. Other cultures had their own mythologies for the stars. Some of their stories were part of their religions, helping them to explain everyday events, such as the seasons. These stories usually have a hero, who was given an honorary place in the sky, as either a reward or tribute. One of the very first use of the Constellations was for religion reasons. Ancient people...
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..."Nevertheless the sands have destroyed only the body of ancient Egypt Civilization; its spirit survives in the lore and memory of our race" Some major contributions of Ancient Egypt to world culture are the inventions of pyramids, glass, linen, paper, ink, the calendar, the clock, arts, crafts, geometry and the alphabet. Ancient Egypt was big on Architecture by designing handmade Pyramids. Such as Kufu’s Pyramid, which was so complex in design elements that it still remains a mystery. Astronomy, Astrology and time helped the world distinguish the two. Observers did time keeping, and prediction of future and fate was something they called single “ science”. Astronomers calculated the length of a solar year with an accuracy of six minutes, then divided the year into twelve month, a month into four weeks, and a day into twenty-four hours. This system the astronomers came up with proved to be accurate and successful, as it is reflected now in the cycle of seasons. Today we use that system in everyday life. Before spring arrives we set our clocks forward due to change in seasons and daylight savings. The arts and crafts of the Egyptians, was the design of huge pyramids, sculptures of items that were placed in the pyramids and tombs when people died. The jewelry and clothing was very unique and stylish. Especially those of upper class or hierarchy. Egyptian climate with its hot summers and mild winters required light clothing made from plant fibers, predominantly linen. The Kings...
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...art style, architecture and beliefs. The Classical period was a time of spectacular architecture, philosophical pondering, and human development; taking place between 500 – 323 BC, Ancient Greece enjoyed wealth and power. The arts, literature, and drama thrived. The Classical Period made world changing discoveries in medicine, mathematics, physics, and astronomy. The city of Athens, one of the most powerful and influential cities in the Classical period introduced the world to Democracy and has shaped today’s western governments. Some of the philosophers of the Classical Period have become the most well known philosophers know to man today and have had influence on Western thought and civilization. To this day the teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are still pondered today. Classical art focused mainly on five forms: architecture, sculpture, pottery, painting, and music. Ancient Greece was dominated by religion. This resulted in the temples being big and beautiful. The Classical period brought change in the style of sculptures. The Greeks believed in humanism and their art displayed this. The Greeks took great pride in the importance of the individual in society in the forms of art, philosophy and government. The Greek artists developed their style to depict real people. They began to use a realistic approach of figures. Sculptures were perfectly formed figures without flaws, and looked upon as a form of beauty. This was a time of natural beauty focusing on earthy things...
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...K MODULE III & IV Prepared by: Ms. SWAPNA M.S. Department of English K. K. T. M. Govt. College Pullut, Thrissur Dr. Anitha Ramesh K Associate Professor Department of English ZG College, Calicut © Reserved 2 Scrutinised by : Layout: Computer Section, SDE History and Philosophy of Science School of Distance Education Contents MODULE I ANCIENT HISTORY OF SCIENCE 1. Introduction 2. Origins of Scientific Enquiry 3. European Origins of Science 4. Contributions of Early India 5. Science in China 6. The role of Arabs in the History of Science MODULE 2 7. Science in the Middle Ages MODULE 3 MODERN SCIENCE 8. Newton and After 9. The Advancing Frontiers: Modern Medicine to Nanotechnology MODULE 4 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 10. Basic concepts in the Philosophy of Science 11. Some Issues in the Philosophy of Science Pages 5 10 17 24 31 36 44 53 64 79 88 History and Philosophy of Science 3 School of Distance Education History and Philosophy of Science 4 School of Distance Education MODULE 1 ANCIENT HISTORY OF SCIENCE UNIT – 1 INTRODUCTION Objectives This chapter will help you to: 1. Understand what is science 2. Understand...
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...becomes surreal. Oftentimes people tend to believe in things they read without an iota of doubt concerning their veracity or validity. When it comes to historical facts, truthfulness is often established through some scientific means or records from the time under investigation. It is no wonder therefore that when there are no records of how a particular phenomenon came to be, scientists will spend so much of their time trying to formulate theories and test-case scenarios that might have led to their origin. Take the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China for instance, it...
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...The people of ancient Greece lived nearly 4,000 years ago. Yet even today, their culture impacts our lives! We received many gifts from the ancient Greeks. Ancient Greek Inventions are in fact the original concepts of some of our most well known products, to this day. Those original concepts have just taken on a more modern form. OLYMPICS: The first Olympics games are usually given the start year of 776 BCE, but they probably began even sooner. The ancient Greeks loved competitions of all sorts, especially sporting competitions. The Olympics were not the onlycompetition games held in ancient Greece, but they were the most popular. The Greeks took the Olympic games quite seriously. Nearly all the ancient Greek cities sent teams to participate in the ancient Greek Olympics. If two or more Greek city-states happen to be at war with each other when the game date arrived, war was halted for the duration of the games. Everyone wanted their city-state to win! Sciences Greece has importantly influenced the Western science in many ways. The Ancient Greeks especially contributed many things to the scientific world, from medicine to astronomy. The most famous ancient Greek scientists and their work are briefly described below. Thales of Miletus (640-610 to ca 548-545 BC) had travelled widely in quest of knowledge, visiting Crete, Phoenicia, and Egypt. Ηe brought Phoenician navigational techniques into Miletus. Thales is also said to have tried to revise the calendar. He also...
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