Methodologies of Science

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 surveys 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.