HISTORY 36B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Applied Mathematics, Klazomenai, Atomism
Document Summary
Pre-socratics = philosophers before socrates and his disciples. Focus = nature the of the physical universe, as well as ethics (socrates and his disciples focused predominately on ethics) Rejection of mythological explanations of natural phenomena, instead rational explanations sought. Greeks only knew the moon, sun, the stars, and the five visible planets. Astronomical data had been recorded in asia, especially at babylonia, as early as. 1600 bce: eclipses, movements of stars and planets. Position of stars and planets had been used in seafaring for navigation and in agriculture to determine time (calendar) First assumption: in the beginning there was only one or few substances from which all matter evolved. Used math to predict solar eclipses, solstices. Demonstrated that movement of the sun and the length of days not controlled by divine whim. Earth was flat and floated on water. Original substance = the boundless or indefinite . Life arose from the slime warmed by the sun.
