ancient history pt 1

Question 1

how did Greek philosophers find natural causes of things by

Answer 1

1. Reason

2. Observation

Question 2

why did Greek philosophers discard supernatural explanations

Answer 2

no complete explanation of the world (bible or text), Greek gods took little interest in the world and in people, had human characteristics and faults

Question 3

the Milesian school

Answer 3

Thales of Miletus- left no writings and may have been illiterate
some views put down in record by Aristotle
- first natural philosopher

Question 4

Thales teachings

Answer 4

1. earth is a disc surrounded on all sides by water
   - earthquakes came from jostling of world by water
2. water is the beginning of all things, the fundamental element out of which all else is made
3. the forces that cause change in matter are consolidation and expansion

Question 5

who claim to invented science

Answer 5

the Milesians: because of their naturalism and their ideas on the unity of matter

Question 6

Empedocles

Answer 6

similar to Thales- had a materialist and causal view of nature

• originator of 4 element model of nature
• elements combine and dissociate because of 2 forces: love and hate

Question 7

empedocles biology

Answer 7

we think primarily with our blood, because the 4 elements are most evenly mingled in our blood

Question 8

how did empedocles believe animals evolved

Answer 8

from bizzare ancestors

- originally seperate limbs, torsos and heads

Question 9

who represents the peak of the first period of greek philosophy

Answer 9

Democritus: noted for its interest in the natural world for its own sake
- learned atomism from Leucippus and became foremost ancient atomist and religious skeptic

Question 10

who is named the laughing philosopher

Answer 10

democritus

Question 11

democritus atomism

Answer 11

atoms are infinite in number and shape

qualities of matter derive from the number, size, shape and motion of the atoms of which matter is composed

Question 12

democritus biology

Answer 12

life and soul are same thing

• soul is made up of fire atoms
• respiration brings in soul atoms from the air
• sleep and death = loss of soul atoms

Question 13

how did democritus believe we perceived

Answer 13

movement of atoms from the percevied object to the perceiver interact with soul atoms from the perceiver
- atoms come off object and off the eye and meet in the middle to interact and form an image

Question 14

democritus organs

Answer 14

brain: thought
heart: courage
liver: sensuality

Question 15

democritus atheism

Answer 15

no divine beings, impersonal necessity and natural law govern the world
- No divine will

Question 16

limitations of first period greek philosophy

Answer 16

• not big on hypothesises (testing theories through observation)
• chemistry knowledge was poor