Please make sure you read the chapters, "Natural Philosophers" and "Democritus", pgs. 30-48 in order to do a great job answering the blog question. Feel free to use the NP grid sheet and the NP handout as well.
The natural philosophers discussed in these two chapters sought the answers as to what substance makes up our world and how to account for perceptible changes in life.
What was the substance of life?
- Was everything made of water as Thales stated? Or air in different combinations like Anaximenes commented? Or something called the"boundless"? Empedocles went further and felt that everything in life was a combo of 4 roots - earth, air, wind and fire (Avatar, the Last Airbender anyone?) - and that all things that have ever been and will ever be come from infinte variations of those roots. Anaxagoras was ahead of his time by envisioning material items being made up of tiny particles called "seeds."
- Or, as Democritus hypothesized, is life made up of immutable, tiny particles that are much like Lego pieces? The pieces are not all uniform in size and shape, and so that's what accounts for the infinite possibilities of these pieces he called "atoms".
What makes things change (or how do we explain he changes we experience w/ our senses)?
- Parmenides believed like all Greeks that nothing could come from nothing, and so things really didn't change. If he saw that the leaves were changing colors but his reason told him that nothing could really change, so what gives? Parmenides says that you can't trust your senses.
- Well, Heraclitus says Baloney! Everything's in flux, he says, but the thing that keeps everything whole is the logos or universal reason.
- Empedocles blended both permanence and change together with his 4 roots theory. Things change, but the roots are immutable and you can trust your senses.
- Parmenides believed like all Greeks that nothing could come from nothing, and so things really didn't change. If he saw that the leaves were changing colors but his reason told him that nothing could really change, so what gives? Parmenides says that you can't trust your senses.
- Well, Heraclitus says Baloney! Everything's in flux, he says, but the thing that keeps everything whole is the logos or universal reason.
- Empedocles blended both permanence and change together with his 4 roots theory. Things change, but the roots are immutable and you can trust your senses.
One thing to keep in mind before you answer the following questions: These natural philosophers did all of this thinking and hypothesizing without the benefit of our current technology and theories.
Please answer these questions:
1. Which of these natural philosophers do you most vibe with? Why?
2. Which of these natural philosophers is the most opposite of your personal views of life / universe? Why?
250 words minimum total for both answers - Due Wednesday, March 22 by the beginning of class.
2. Which of these natural philosophers is the most opposite of your personal views of life / universe? Why?
250 words minimum total for both answers - Due Wednesday, March 22 by the beginning of class.
