Introduction and Greek Contributions Introduction

Purpose 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 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 History 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Mathematician 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 ( 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 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 Universe 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 ( 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 ( 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). /retrograde/aristotle.html /retrograde/aristotle.html

The Theory’s 3 Assumptions 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 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.