CLAS100 Lecture : Greek Philosophy Introduction to Greek philosophy, including early scientists and their beliefs and pre-scientific cosmogony.
16 Oct 2011
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The pre-socratic"s: engaging in philosophy before socrates (469-399bce) Philosophy, greek philo sophia: love of wisdom/knowledge, pursuit of knowledge of any kind, not what we traditionally think of as philosophy. Science, latin scientia: means "knowledge", means knowledge of anything, very broad. Where we get our word for physics: would also be botany and biology in ancient times. Cosmos, the universe: concept of universe in antiquity not as broad as ours, root of word means order and beauty. Ancient world would not have distinctions between modern divisions of science, philosophy. Early scientists trying to understand universe and humans place in it. In the beginning was chaos (means opening or gap. : origin of gods=origins of universe, chaos gives rise to gaia (earth/earth goddess), eros (love, desire), and various dark powers, gaia gives birth to sea, mountains and ouranos (sky). Ouranos and gaia birth the titan gods (elder generation of gods) Scientists would observe of natural world and the attempt to explain it.
