Task 1 Flashcards
Preliterate civilizations
1) knowledge is confined to know-how, without theoretical understanding of underlying principles
2) fluidity of knowledge -> knowledge is limited to two generations , oral transmission
3) collection of myths and stories about beginning of universe, life and natural phenomena , Animism
First written language
- separately in at least four cultures
- 6000 BCE: china
- 3200 BCE: Egypt and Sumer
- 300 BCE: America
-> from early stage, writing systems were combination of Pictogramm and phonograms
Pictograms
- pictures that resemble persons, animals, objects they represent
- Chinese alphabet closest to pictograms
Logographic
- physical correspondence between signs and words decreased
- words are represented by written characters, that no longer resemble meaning they stand for
Phonograms
- signs to represent sounds of spoken language
- gradually replaced by simpler signs symbolizing meaningful sounds in language or syllables
- > led to alphabetic writing system
Written documents form an external memory
- important for science because it allows accumulation of knowledge
- read what predecessors wrote to rediscover what has previously been found
- before answering new questions, researchers search in literature for what is already known
- > built on existing insights and avoid pitfalls
Socrates (470-399 BCE) opinion on writing
- philosopher in ancient Greece
- argued that writing leads to forgetfulness, laziness and discouragement (demotivieren) of proper studying
Scholastic method
- study method in which students unquestioningly memorize and recite texts that are thought to coney the unchaining truths
- it was still prevalent in universities in 16th century
Fertile Crescent
- most important civilizations for origin of western culture
- > ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt
Ancient mesopotamia
- More sophisticated knowledge of mathematics
- applied in astronomy
- > made calendar of planets, stars and satellites and determined times for planting and harvesting
Ancient Egypt
- contributed to geometrical knowledge
- made a calendar of 12 months
Ancient Greeks
- first culture to question nature of wold
- philosophy started here around 600 BCE
- Hippocrates
- Ptolemy
- Euclid
Ancient Greeks - foundation of schools
- 4 schools were established in Anthem
- academy -> Plato
- Lyceum -> Aristotle
- Stoa
- Garden of Epicurus
Plato (427-348 BCE)
- pupil of Socrates
- rationalism -> truth is based on thinking not information of senses
- views appreciated by church
Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
-contributed to biology, logic, metaphysics, psychology
-student of Plato
-knowledge is less based on reason, he left room for observation
-most popular in Renaissance, initially led to tensions with church
The world is as we perceive it -> no gap between appearance and reality -> what you observe is what there is