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 ?
Greek scientists, also known as philosophers, made significant contributions to changing the way people viewed and understood the natural world. They introduced rational and logical explanations rather than relying on supernatural or mythological beliefs.
One of the key ways in which Greek scientists changed people's understanding was by emphasizing the use of observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning. They moved away from supernatural or divine explanations for natural events and sought to find natural explanations based on evidence.
Greek scientists, such as Thales, Anaximander, and Pythagoras, were the first to propose naturalistic theories for the origin of the universe and the workings of the natural world. For example, Thales suggested that water was the fundamental substance from which all things arose, while Pythagoras proposed that an underlying mathematical order governed all natural phenomena.
These Greek philosophers also introduced the concept of natural laws. They believed that the natural world was governed by universal and consistent laws that could be discovered through reason and observation. This idea laid the groundwork for the development of modern scientific method and experimentation.
Prior to scientific explanations, common Greeks often explained natural events through myths, legends, and religious beliefs. They attributed natural phenomena like thunder, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions to the actions of gods and goddesses. For example, Zeus, the god of thunder, was believed to create lightning, while Poseidon, the god of the sea, was thought to cause earthquakes.
These explanations relied on divine powers and were not based on systematic observation or experimentation. They served to maintain a sense of awe and mystery surrounding natural events, but did not provide a deeper understanding of the underlying processes.
Greek scientists challenged these mythological explanations by offering naturalistic explanations that were based on evidence, reason, and observation. Their approach fundamentally changed how people perceived and interpreted the natural world, ultimately leading to the development of modern science.