Aristotle s Theory Of Falling - 1747 Words

My thesis is twofold: Aristotle’s empirical arguments supporting the view that the earth is a sphere are not convincing ; however, his hybrid argument combining a priori and empirical claims based on his theory of falling succeeds in displacing Pre-Socratic Cosmology and empirically grounding the creation cosmology of Plato’s Timaeus. Aristotle inherited a tradition of cosmologies espoused by the Presocratics beginning with Thales, â€Å"The Earth floats on water, which is in some way the source of all things† (Kirk B13) . The tradition continues with Anaximenes, â€Å"The earth is flat and rides on air† (B13) and reaches a zenith with Parmenides, â€Å"†¦there is a furthest limit, it is perfected, like the bulk of a ball well-rounded on every side, equally balanced in every direction from the center† (Fr. 8 32-49). These three quotes identify two themes that Aristotle would face while developing his cosmogony: how does the earth maintain its place in the universe and what is its shape. Aristotle also labored under the imposing shadow of his teacher Plato who developed his cosmology in the Timaeus, â€Å"†¦he should fashion the world as a single whole†¦ And he gave it a shape appropriate to the kind of thing it was†¦ Hence he gave it a round shape, the form of a sphere†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Timaeus 33a-b). Plato identifies the correct shape of the earth but he does not argue for this conclusion. Aristotle will have to ground this idea in empirical science not myth. The first step for Aristotle in On the Heavens isShow MoreRelatedEssay History of the Scientific Method685 Words   |  3 Pagesnon-arbitrary) representation of the world. In the study of natural phenomenon, personal and cultural beliefs strongly influence our interpretations and perceptions. Scientific method relies on standard procedures to minimize these influences when developing a theory. Scientific method consists of four steps: (1)- Making an observation of a phenomenon. 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