Lecture 3 18 Jan', 2000

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Lecture 3 18 Jan., 2000
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Review of Connection the Trigger Effects

• a. Effect of small rectangular box
• b. complete dependence on technology
• c. one small malfunction can cripple the entire
  system airplane, car. We take technology for
  granted.

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Steps of technology lead?

• Plow trigger of Civilization
• Plant enough food for you and others
• Irrigation, understand river
• Buildings? Geometry
• Surplus of food and the beginning of
  civilization. administration/accounting/Math/writ
  ing.

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Next - Death in the Morning

• trigger touchstone
• increases trade
• drives sailing technology
• weather forecasting
• atomic explosions

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View Video - Death in the Morning
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Science

• and from whence it comes

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Common Attitudes About Science.

• Position 1. Science is too big. Its support
  should be reduced.
• Give up high technology and settle for
  intermediate.

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Common Attitudes About Science

• Position 2 Science is a waste of resource.
• Stop all science, science results in
  environmental and social pollution.
• Spread the wealth-stop planned obsolescence.

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Common Attitudes About Science

• Position 3 Science and technology is important
  and should be expanded.
• Assess scientific knowledge and develop only
  technology that is useful.

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History of Science

• Egypt and Babylon Science was used for control.
  
• Predict floods/eclipse sun/when to plant.
• AstronomyStudy of the sky.
• Astrology Influence of star and planets on
  non-physical universe.
• Gods controlled nature.

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The Greek Miracle

• Cross Fertilization of Ideas
• Strong economy-silver mines-thinking leisure
  class.
• Lack of religious control.

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Greek view of matter.

• Democritus (460-370 BC) atom.
• Elements fire-air-water-earth
• Natural State Rest
• celestial movement as perfect circle.
• Aristotle-Matter was continuous.
• No Experiments-use logic and reason-Deduction

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Deduction.

• Reasoning from general laws to particulars
• All men are mortal
• Aristotle is a man
• Aristotle is mortal
• Circles are perfect
• Planets travel in circles
• Planets must be perfect.

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Aristotle (384-322 BC)

• Formal Deductive reasoning
• Great philosopher
• biologist
• Look for prime movers, natural states

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The Elements of Aristotelianism

• What constitutes Proof or Evidence
• a) Logic and the avoidance of contradiction.
• b) Authority. (scripture, Aristotle)

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Knowledge is qualitative, Hierarchies

• There are degrees of perfection.
• In matter- (elements)
• Beings-(Satan to Angel).Geocentric Universe

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Ptolemy (100 -170 AD)

• Mapped star.
• Geocentric view of the universe.

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Geocentric Universe (Ptolemy)

• Heavens (Stars) (perfect circles, Constant)
• (1) Jupiter
• (2) Saturn
• (3) Mars
• (4) Venus
• (5) Mercury
• (6) Sun
• (7) Moon
• Earth

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Sub-lunar World (Earth)

• Fire (Variable-not pure)
• Air
• Water
• Earth

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Human Inquiry was afforded respect in order of
being studied.

• Theology (Queen of Science)
• Astronomy
• Earthly Things was for baser minds.