>>It's time to put on our thinking caps and
interpret the significance of what we've been
exploring. Unless it explains, history is
trivial. Did you discover anything unexpected
this week that needs to be explained? In your
explorations of ancient Greek science, you
encountered many different, sometimes contradictory
explanations. Interpretations of the significance
of Aristotle, Plato, and the Pythagoreans
have varied immensely over time and continue
to be disputed even today. Consider first
Aristotle, who stands at the beginning of
the many long conversations that make up most
of Western science. David Lindberg contends,
(quote) "Aristotle prevailed through persuasion,
not coercion" (end quote). Would you agree?
Next consider Plato, Aristotle's teacher.
To study physics according to Aristotle, you
don't need mathematics nearly as much as observations
and common sense. Yet for Plato mathematics
is the language of nature. Let's imagine a
friend who says, "Plato's Timaeus can be interpreted
as the first work of mathematical particle
physics." Would you agree? Finally, consider
Rafael's painting The School of Athens, which
adorns the ceiling of St. Peter's Basilica
in the Vatican. If you were to select, say,
five different figures who shaped the history
of science from among those depicted in The
School of Athens, who would you choose? Your
five figures might include Aristotle, Plato,
Pythagoras, and two or three others. How did
their answers vary to our two questions? What
is nature? How is nature known? How did Rafael
express their ideas and the historical relationships
between them in the composition of The School
of Athens? What is the most significant implication
of what you have learned this week? What is
your interpretation?
