POLS-214 : Plato's The Republic Concept Notes.docx
12 Dec 2013
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Physis: natural philosophers were the precursors to modern scientists. Physis was the term that natural philosophers used for natural things that remain constant, and come into being on their own. Physis relates to universal knowledge and truths such as honor thy father and mother . Natural philosophers believed that it is possible to develop knowledge relating to physis because there are patterns governing it, and that it remains constant. Nomos: natural philosophers were the precursors to modern scientists. They applied philosophy to nature in order to derive knowledge and truths from the natural world. Natural philosophy was essentially modern science before the advent of scientific method. Natural philosophers viewed the world as being divided into two realms, nomos (order and convention) and physis (nature and chaos). Nomos was the term that natural philosophers used for unwritten laws and convention that govern, and which are not universal.
