Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
4th Edition
ISBN: 9780134089089
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Seth Shostak
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 2, Problem 1RQ

Describe at least three characteristics of Greek thinking that helped pave the way for the development of modern science.

Expert Solution & Answer
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To determine

Three characteristics of Greek thinking that helped to produce the way for the development of modern science.

Answer to Problem 1RQ

Three characteristics of Greek thinking are first they developed a tradition of trying to understand nature without believing supernatural explanations. Second, they used geometry and third they do not believe any explanation unless it agreed with the observed fact.

Explanation of Solution

The three characteristics of greek thinking that helped pave the way for development of modern science as discussed below:

First, the Greek philosophers developed a process related to understand the nature without believing in the supernatural explanations.

They were free to think creatively as they were not trying to prove preconceived ideas and they also thought that the new ideas should be open to challenge.

The tradition to challenge every idea is main feature of scientific research today.

Second, the Greeks started use of mathematicsin the form of geometry; they used it to solve both engineering and scientific problems. The use of mathematicshelped to explore the implications of new ideas and now remains important part of modern science.

Third, they do not do any experiments or observations, and they don’t believe the explanation unless it agreed with the observed facts. This attempt to discard the explanations that do not work is also a major part of modern science.

Conclusion:

Thus, the three characteristics of Greek thinking are first they developed a tradition of trying to understand nature without believing supernatural explanations. Second, they used geometry and third they do not believe any explanation unless it agreed with the observed fact.

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Chapter 2 Solutions

Life in the Universe (4th Edition)

Ch. 2 - How did the Copernican revolution affect scholarly...Ch. 2 - What is the difference between a hypothesis and a...Ch. 2 - Describe each of the three hallmarks of science...Ch. 2 - What is Occams razor? Give an example of how it...Ch. 2 - Why doesnt science accept personal testimony as...Ch. 2 - In what sense is gravity both a fact and a theory?...Ch. 2 - What is Newtons universal law of gravitation?...Ch. 2 - Prob. 18RQCh. 2 - Lionel Messi is the best soccer player of his...Ch. 2 - Several kilometers below its surface, Europa has...Ch. 2 - My house is haunted by ghosts, who make the...Ch. 2 - There are no lakes or seas on Mars today.Ch. 2 - All life in the universe must use DNA as its...Ch. 2 - Children born when Jupiter is in the constellation...Ch. 2 - Prob. 25TYUCh. 2 - Newtons law of gravity explains the orbits of...Ch. 2 - God created the laws of motion that were...Ch. 2 - Prob. 28TYUCh. 2 - In Ptolemys geocentric model, the retrograde...Ch. 2 - Which of the following was not a major advantage...Ch. 2 - Earth is closer to the Sun in January than in...Ch. 2 - According to Keplers third law, (a) Mercury...Ch. 2 - Tycho Brahes contributions to astronomy included...Ch. 2 - Galileos contributions to astronomy included (a)...Ch. 2 - Which of the following is not true about...Ch. 2 - Which of the following is not true about a...Ch. 2 - How did the Copernican revolution alter...Ch. 2 - When Einsteins theory of gravity (general...Ch. 2 - Greek Models. As we discussed in this chapter, the...Ch. 2 - Copernican Players. Using a bulleted list format,...Ch. 2 - Atomists and Aristotelians. The ancient Greek...Ch. 2 - Influence on History. Based on what you have...Ch. 2 - Sedna Orbit. The object Sedna orbits our Sun at an...Ch. 2 - Eris Orbit. The dwarf planet Eris, which is...Ch. 2 - New Planet Orbit. A newly discovered planet orbits...Ch. 2 - Halleys Orbit. Halleys Comet orbits the Sun every...Ch. 2 - Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation. a. How does...Ch. 2 - Science and Religion. Science and religion are...Ch. 2 - The Impact of Science. The modern world is filled...Ch. 2 - Absolute Truth. An important issue in the...Ch. 2 - Pseudoscience. Choose a pseudoscientific claim...Ch. 2 - Prob. 60WP
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