Lecture 8: Mechanical Universe Flashcards
What is the purpose of science?
It has one purpose as the word, scientia, which defines knowledge
Is this what science is today?
From the surface, many would agree that it is to find knowledge. However, science because less of an objective as we pursue warfare and profit.
What is art?
A talent that requires a lot of skills, techniques, and is difficult to learn.
Examples: Carroscuro effect, the light and dark effect, and contra posso
Who is Marcel Duchamp?
He was an artist that painted the fountain in 1917.
What was Marcel Duchamp’s argument?
He was trying to argue that regardless of the meaning of the work, the creation from that artist is the work of art.
How is Marcel Duchamp’s argument parallel to the definition of science?
Similar to an artist, scientist will create science and do it as long it follows the rule
In terms of historiography, What are the two major approaches to history?
- Internal (old one)
- External (New one)
What is internal and what was the claim?
It is an approach that uses traditional methods by historians to examine what scientists and/or engineers did in science and engineering without social (external) factors.
What is the idealistic approach in terms of internal?
These inventors/inborn geniuses would create everything through their independence and inner creativity.
What is the objective of the inventors/inborn geniuses?
To make improvements to the world.
What does Dr. Lech agree/disagree in terms of internal approach?
- Agrees that understanding the intentions of science and technology by examining the aspect of any given technology or scientific aspects.
- Disagrees that the idea that both science and technology are considered separate from the social (external factors)`
What is the external approach?
Modern historians will completely ignore the engineering and scientific factors by studying the social context of everything in the past. This is when it does not consider inborn geniuses/ inventors.
What does Dr. Lech disagree/agree in terms of external approach?
- Disagrees with the social constructivism as it doesn’t explain everything in full detail
- Agree that having internal and external approaches is better to examine the events in society
What is the first theory about origins of modern society/technology?
“The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by Thomas Kuhn is an internal approach to history.
Explain the methods of internal approach?
In his belief as a structuralist, finding the mathematical formulas to explain the science is an example of an internal approach. Therefore, this demonstrates his studies of finding the answers to scientific inventions or how scientific theories are form.
Why does Thomas Kuhn Claim that there is no scientific revolution?
Their is a series of revolutions which are called, “paradigm”. The process goes like this:
- Establish science
- Evolve establish science into normal science
- A novelty/anomaly will criticize the flaws in the establish science
- Introduces a crisis in the normal establish science
- The new emergence of a new paradigm becomes the current establish science
- That new establish science would become the new normal science
What comments did Dr. Lech talk about in regards to Thomas Kuhn’s work?
He believed it was only applicable to earlier part of history
but was too rigid for the entire history of science and technology.
Examples such as: Newtonian system and Einsteinian system
What is the second theory about the origins of modern science/technology?
“Purintanism and the Rise of Modern Science” by Robert Merton, which is an external approach
What methods of external approach did Robert Merton use?
He used religion as an external factor and argues about the positive/negative aspects in the history of technology and science.
What religion did Robert Merton used to support his arguments?
He used Protestants (Christians) and Roman Catholics
What was the perspective between the two religion of interest?
- Christians believe that by practising Christianity, God will treat you well and reward you with wealth. Therefore, Christians use Prophets
- Roman Catholics believe that God mistreating you by giving you adversaries, then it is considered a reward
According to Robert Merton, why does industrial revolution occur in Protestants?
The protestants’ drive for personal wealth through the practices of Christianity that introduces a different approach towards science and technology.
What is Robert Merton conclusion?
It’s not a coincidence that Christians would have the interest of personal wealth through science and technology during the industrial and scientific revolution.
What is the third theory about the origins of modern science/technology?
“The Social Origins of Modern Science” by Edgar Zilsel, which is external approach?
Why would this theory be an external approach?
It focuses on the social classes but specifically towards the neglected and omitted section of society.
What is Edgar Zilsel’s argument?
He believed that non-famous craftsmen are the first scientists as they did their experimentation on their free time that led to their own theories of their devices:
- Theory
- Experimentation
- Interaction of the device
What is the fourth theory about the origins of modern science/technology?
“Empire and Communications” by Harold Innis, which is an external approach
What was Harold Innis trying to argue?
It was about how the scientific revolution led to access to knowledge and communication networks
What is a good example to his argument?
The Gutenberg’s Press and the internet that led to the removal of gatekeepers
According to the textbook, what is the scientific revolution?
The scientific revolution took place in 1543 - 1700s, where the period introduces the evolution of natural philosophy into modern science
What does Dr. Lech see in scientific revolution?
He sees the scientific revolution as a shift from “Why the universe works” into “how it works” that introduce mechanical philosophy.
Who/what tried to attempt the mathematical model of the Cosmos?
Claudius Ptolemy (83 - 161 AD), and Alexandria (Heron), who wrote the Almagest (150 AD). The mathematical models are geocentrism/epicycles
Who is Nicolas Copernicus?
Thought to be a brilliant mathematician and astronomer. But in reality, he used to attend the University of Krakov before going to Padua.
What was Copernicus like as a student?
He wasn’t a good student in terms of academics
Why was leaving Krakov consider a negative aspect of Copernicus?
In that time, transferring to Padua is a bad thing as it was a school of medicine and medicine was viewed as low education.
What was the myth of Copernicus?
Many believed that his Heliocentric cosmos were against the Roman Catholic Church
What movement was Copernicus involved in?
He was part of the so-called scholastic movement and wanted to go back to the pure knowledge of the ancients to understand the science and technology
What improvement did Copernicus do, and what was the aftermath?
He improved Ptolemy’s system by replacing the Earth with the sun. The sun will become the centre of the universe and the Earth revolves around the sun. This introduces the scientific revolution that later becomes Harold Innis’ theory.
In 1543, what did Copernicus published?
“De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” in May 24, 1543. The book was banished by the Roman Catholic Church
Why was the book banished?
It undermined Ptolemy’s system
What is the implication of Richard of Wallingford’s mechanical clock?
It provided an alternative of measuring or indication by nature to the hand of the machine. Therefore, it changes our relationship with technology.
In 2020s, what do we blindly believe?
In a new god that is the science and technology which replaces the religion.
Who is Nicholas Oresme (1320–1382)?
He was a theologian and scholar, who stated that God is the Supreme Cloca Maker and the universe is the machine, leading to mechanical philosophy.
Who is Galileo of Galilei (1564–1642)?
He was the first scientist to criticize our staiting logic and has the nickname, “Copernican”
What did Galileo use the telescope for?
He used the telescope for basic observations on the sky which later prove Copernicus’s theory and that all planets have craters.
What book did Galileo published?
“Starry Message” that directly attacked on Aristotelian Ptolemaic systems
What was the real reason of Galileo being brought upon the Inquistion?
There was a “missing” component of Giovanni de Donis’ Astrarium that would be proven by both mechanical and mathematical principles, without the presence of God.
How did Galileo escape the death penalty?
He had social connections with the Pope of Rome
What did Galileo do next?
Published a dialogue in 1632, a play that has three characters, Copernicus, Ptolemaic, and Aristotelian astronomer.
What was the consequence of the dialogue?
It led to misinformation rumours that led to Galileo being brought to the holy inquisition again.
What was the context in the Holy Inquisition?
They question Galileo about his theory about the Earth revolving around the sun. Asked him about how the immense speed of Earth does not make society feel movement, which was related to Posidonius’s theory about the ocean tides.
Why would the story of Galileo be important?
His mechanical philosophy shift the question from “why the nature/universe work” to “how the nature/universe work”