1. Define and briefly discuss the significance of the following five terms. In this discussion, please make sure to explain why the terms are important to the development of the philosophy of science. (Five points each, 25 total)
1. Final (or teleological) cause The final cause is “that for the sake of which a thing is done” (13). The final cause of a soup bowl is: holding soup so that it can be eaten. The final cause is an integral component of Aristotle’s explanation of why the world is how it is. Scientists (artists) understand the causes that lie beneath the mundane understanding of common people. A bricklayer understands the ratios of ingredients needed to make strong mortar; a scientist understands why the ingredients cause …show more content…
From the concept of incidental cause, Aristotle separated chance and spontaneity and chance. He attributed spontaneity to all unintended results. He attributed chance to results that were not due to the original intention. The difference between the two is that for something to happen by chance there must have been intention. So, chance is therefore a subgroup of spontaneity in which intention is present. Aristotle claimed that only “men” (adult humans) were capable of intelligent deliberation and intention, so the category of “chance” is only applicable to results involving humans Spontaneous events not involving human intention, such as a bee collecting pollen, are attributed to “nature,” and by extension the divine. Thus, Aristotle attempted to parse out scientific explanations from the untouchable realm of the …show more content…
Point
According to Euclid, “A point is that which has no part” (29). It is used to specify a location, but has no substance. It is the most fundamental definition in geometry. In regards to the development of the philosophy of science, without the concept of a point, geometry could not exist: all lines would stretch infinitely in both directions, and no proposition could be proven. An interesting note regarding points is that theorem four of “The Almagest,” Ptolemy claims “That the Earth Has the Ratio of a Point to the Heavens” (38). According to Euclid’s definition of a geometric point, this claim is false because the planet earth has substance (however insignificant in relation to the heavens), therefore earth cannot be a point in the geometric sense. 4. Ecliptic The ecliptic is the path the sun appears to take through the heavens as a result of earth’s orbit. As we spin on our path around the sun, the position the sun occupies against the backdrop of the celestial sphere
1. Final (or teleological) cause The final cause is “that for the sake of which a thing is done” (13). The final cause of a soup bowl is: holding soup so that it can be eaten. The final cause is an integral component of Aristotle’s explanation of why the world is how it is. Scientists (artists) understand the causes that lie beneath the mundane understanding of common people. A bricklayer understands the ratios of ingredients needed to make strong mortar; a scientist understands why the ingredients cause …show more content…
From the concept of incidental cause, Aristotle separated chance and spontaneity and chance. He attributed spontaneity to all unintended results. He attributed chance to results that were not due to the original intention. The difference between the two is that for something to happen by chance there must have been intention. So, chance is therefore a subgroup of spontaneity in which intention is present. Aristotle claimed that only “men” (adult humans) were capable of intelligent deliberation and intention, so the category of “chance” is only applicable to results involving humans Spontaneous events not involving human intention, such as a bee collecting pollen, are attributed to “nature,” and by extension the divine. Thus, Aristotle attempted to parse out scientific explanations from the untouchable realm of the …show more content…
Point
According to Euclid, “A point is that which has no part” (29). It is used to specify a location, but has no substance. It is the most fundamental definition in geometry. In regards to the development of the philosophy of science, without the concept of a point, geometry could not exist: all lines would stretch infinitely in both directions, and no proposition could be proven. An interesting note regarding points is that theorem four of “The Almagest,” Ptolemy claims “That the Earth Has the Ratio of a Point to the Heavens” (38). According to Euclid’s definition of a geometric point, this claim is false because the planet earth has substance (however insignificant in relation to the heavens), therefore earth cannot be a point in the geometric sense. 4. Ecliptic The ecliptic is the path the sun appears to take through the heavens as a result of earth’s orbit. As we spin on our path around the sun, the position the sun occupies against the backdrop of the celestial sphere