A concise exploration of the ancient origins of scientific methodology, specifically its beginnings in precise observation, expanding into empirical exploration and leading ultimately to experimental methods. Students begin with Aristotle and his logical, empirical approach to natural phenomena through texts such as "Prior Analytics" and "Parts of Animals." It continues with “On the Nature of Things” in which Lucretius introduces atomic theory and natural laws. Also explored is Galen's "On the Natural Faculties" and early medical science grounded in anatomy and experimentation. This course highlights the transition from mythological explanations to empirical understanding, underscoring the enduring impact of these ancient methodologies on modern scientific thought.
Ada Palmer - University of Chicago
Adam Rosenfeld - University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Angie Hobbs - Sheffield University, UK
Caroline Petit - University of Warwick, UK
Claire Bubb - New York University
James Warren - Cambridge University, UK
Zina Giannopoulou - University of California, Irvine
Aristotle: Prior Analytics, Posterior Analytics, Parts of Animals, On Generation and Corruption
Lucretius: On the Nature of Things
Galen: On the Natural Faculties
Arnold Brooks, University of Chicago
James Romm, Bard College