Task 2 - New Science

Question 1

The Aristotelian worldview

Answer 1

• Dominant system of beliefs from 300 BC until the 1600s
• Geocentric
• > Earth is stationary
• The universe is finite
• Epicycles explain irregular movements of stars
• 5 basic elements
• Core & peripheral beliefs
• 4 causes of being

Question 2

What are the four causes of being?

Answer 2

1. Material Cause - What is it made of?
2. Formal Cause - What is its “action plan”?
3. Efficient Cause - How does it work?
4. Final Cause - What is its purpose?

Question 3

What does Aristotle mean with his core & peripheral beliefs?

Answer 3

• > Peripheral beliefs are easier to change

- > Core beliefs are more central and form the base of many peripheral beliefs

Question 4

Explain the five basic elements according to Aristotle

Answer 4

• Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Ether
• > Ether: The element of the superlunar region
• > The elements have characteristics, that determine how things move in relation to the Center of the earth

Question 5

What does Geocentric mean?

Answer 5

A view after which the earth is in the Center of the universe.

Question 6

Core aspects of Copernicus’ model:

Answer 6

• Heliocentric
• Planets moving around the sun in circles with a sphere of stars around this system
• One year corresponds to one circle around the sun
• One day is a 360° turn of the earth around its own axis
• Epicycles explain irregular movements of stars

Question 7

Central aspects about Galileo Galilei

Answer 7

• Contributions to Astronomy, Physics and Engineering
• First observations with self-built telescope
• > Many stars
• > Surface of moon is not smooth
• > Moons of Jupiter
• supported Copernicus’ Heliocentric Model, thus he was silenced by the church

Question 8

Central aspects about Rene Descartes

Answer 8

Cogito Ergo Sum - The undeniable existence of thought

• Dualism: Distinction between body and soul
• Tried to unite church and science
• Mechanistic world view: The universe is one big, perpetual machine

Question 9

What was Descartes’ opinion about Aristotle’s four causes?

Answer 9

He disregarded them.

Question 10

Central aspects of Rationalism

Answer 10

• Older than Empiricism

- Primary method of investigation is introspection / deductive reasoning

Question 11

Central aspects of Empiricism

Answer 11

• Became popular at the end of the 17th century
• Inductive reasoning, observation, experimentation
• Knowledge should be evidence-based and not principal-driven
• denies innate knowledge
• promoted the development of the scientific method

Question 12

What is the Progressionists’ approach of viewing the history of science?

Answer 12

Maze Analogy:

• > Starting from modern perspective (already knowing the exit)
• > tracing back the path of advancements, that lead towards this exit

Question 13

What is the Phenomenological approach of investigating the history of science?

Answer 13

“Entering” the minds of past scientists and following them on their path, including the dead ends, while trying to understand their reasoning.

Question 14

Core characteristics of “modern science”

Answer 14

• Acknowledges no authorities
• Experimental
• Favours a mechanistic world view
• Tries to describe things quantitatively