#Session 4

• In the western civilization perspective, all questions

about universe in the beginning are answered by myth

and religious-spiritual believe system.

• Math was introduced in Egypt and Babylonia, applied

in astronomy.

• Pre-Socrates philosophers, are believed, developed

systematic sciences based on logics and observations.

• Thales from Miletus called “the Father of Sciences” in

7 BC explained the earthquake based on observation,

not religious things.

Western perspective on the Beginning of Sciences

“The most difficult things in this life is knowing

yourself” -Thales

• Anaximander, founded the

primitive life comes from water

and mud, human developed

from lower level of life.

• Empedocles, founded air material.

• Democritus, tell that all materials consist of atom,

something that cannot be devided anymore.

• Eratosthenes, measured the earth circle in acurate

measurement....

... Using two sticks ...

Using two sticks ...

• Pythagoras, opened a school, teach

about mathematics and its applications.

• Heraclitus and Parmenides, questioned

about sciences: Is it taken from logics or

experince?, Does nature constant or

shift?

• Hippocrates and Galen, developed

anatomy and medics based on

observation, not shaman.

• The founding of chemical elements:

earth, water, air, fire, oil.

• Socrates (469 – 399 BC), setting

up ethics, moral and dialectic

approach.

• Plato (427 - 347 BC), setting up

“idea”. Idea is not something that

created by human thingking, not

depend on human thingking, but

human thinking is depend on idea.

Idea is the main and maiden picture

of reality, non-material, eternal,

unchanged.

Aristotle (384 – 322 BC), his contributions:

• Classified biological species systematically.

• Material is impossible without any form since it is

exist.

• Setting up syllogism.

• In politcs, he believe that the most ideal form of

government is the combination between democracy

and monarch.

Answer following questions in peace of

paper, discuss it with your group:

1. Describe the contribution of Islamic civilization

to the development of modern sciences!

2. What is the definition of sciences (al ‘ilm) in the

Islamic perspective? Is there any differences to

the definition of sciences in the Western

perspective? What are they? Explain it!

Note:

3 groups will make presentation in front of the

class next meeting.