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How did Greek scientists change the way people viewed and understood the natural world around them? How did common Greeks explain natural events prior to scientific explanations?
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Greek scientists, known as philosophers, revolutionized the way people viewed and understood the natural world through their use of observation, reasoning, and logical thinking.
Prior to scientific explanations, common Greeks explained natural events through mythology and religion. They believed that natural events were the result of gods and goddesses intervening in the human world. For example, thunder and lightning were explained as the actions of Zeus, the king of the gods. Natural events were often seen as supernatural occurrences, with no rational explanation.
However, Greek scientists challenged these traditional beliefs by seeking to understand the natural world through observation and experimentation. They believed that natural events were not the result of divine intervention, but rather could be explained through natural causes. For example, Thales of Miletus, considered one of the first Greek philosophers, proposed that earthquakes were caused by natural forces within the earth, rather than the anger of a god.
Greek scientists also developed theories and models to explain natural phenomena. For example, Pythagoras suggested that the Earth was a sphere based on his observations of the stars and the shape of their shadows during an eclipse. This was a significant departure from the common belief that the Earth was flat.
Overall, Greek scientists challenged traditional explanations of the natural world by emphasizing the importance of observation, reasoning, and logical thinking. They laid the foundation for modern scientific methods and revolutionized the way people understood and interpreted the natural world around them.