Origin of Science
We, humans, have an instinctive tendency to judge a matter by the laws of cause and effect; it is the only thing that has remained intact during the process of human evolution. This tendency has busied over the happenings of the natural world while we took each step at a time to the concept of science, which we have today. The modern definition of science relies on observation and experimentation through the path of scientific discoveries has been initiated by ancient Greeks and Romans, trying to logically describe various natural phenomena. Ancient science, however, laid the founding stone for the scientists of the later stages to embark upon. It has been claimed by many that Aristotle was the first scientist. He came around the 4th century BC and brought with him the origin of science.
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Historical Development of Science
Science is a practical and intellectual activity that relies upon the systematic study of the structure and behavior of every natural and physical object through the process of observation and experiment. Since the dawn of the origin of science, many aspects of the world have been called into question. Still, it can be sorted in three main categories based on the subject of study- natural sciences, social sciences, and formal sciences.
Natural Sciences - It comprises the study of the material world.
Social Sciences - The study of people and societies.
Formal Sciences - It is the domain of mathematics.
Historical Evolution of Science
We have earlier discussed the definition and the origin of science; in this section, we will trace the slow transition of science as we progressed over the eras and the scientific development we have achieved from the ancient science to the modern. A quick fact: the word ‘Scientist’ had not come into being until the 19th century, when William Whewell first coined the term.
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Before the writing system came into being, scientific knowledge and findings were transferred in the medium of oral tradition. Ancient science followed this process.
The scientific revolution has occurred in many stages over the years, and each one has bought myriads of scientific ideas together developed by evolved thinkers. In the early stages, when Churches had the upper hand over the people in Europe, original and logical thoughts were condemned; however, the truth cannot be suppressed. One such instance was the findings of Nicolaus Copernicus, who inferred that Earth was not the center of the universe, and first bought the idea of the solar system in the 16th century. Later, Johannes Kepler developed the model of planetary motion.
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Another one of those revolutionary thinkers was Galileo Galilei, who came around the 17th century. He is known as the father of Modern Physics. The further strengthened the ideas of Copernicus and Kepler by inventing the telescope and looking beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Later came, William Gilbert, who conducted various experiments with magnets and electricity. He proved Earth itself was magnetized.
As the study furthered, it was categorized into groups. Natural sciences comprise Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy, and Biology. Social sciences include the study of political science, geography, linguistics, economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology.
Science Facts
Here we have collected some amazing science facts that you probably learn in high school. These prove that science can be fun and informative at the same time.
Water is very prone to do some fun stuff. Water can be boiled and frozen at the same time.
20% of all the oxygen that is present in Earth is produced from the Amazon rainforest.
Venus is the only plant that is spinning in a clockwise rotation.
The light we receive from the sun has a travel light of 8 minutes and 19 seconds. Light has the fastest velocity that humans have known. Albert Einstein and Issac Newton have conducted many experiments with light.
The acids that are present in the human stomach can even dissolve razor blades.
Did You Know?
It has been claimed by many that Aristotle was the first scientist. He came around the 4th century BC and brought with him the origin of science. The speed of light is around 186000 miles per second. Gravity was first discovered by Sir Issac Newton. Though a deduction, it has been conjectured that if one particle travels at the speed of light, there is a possibility that it can travel through time, though it still remains in the genre of science fiction.
Solved Examples
Who is the founder of natural science?
Sir Issac Newton has been claimed as the founder of natural science by many scientists, principally because of his groundbreaking work in The Mathematical Principles.
Who is the founder of science?
It has been claimed by many that Aristotle was the first scientist. He came around the 4th century BC and brought with him the origin of science.
FAQs on History of Science
1. What is science and what are its main branches?
Science is a practical and intellectual activity that involves the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. The primary goal is to understand the laws of cause and effect in the universe. Science can be broadly classified into three main categories:
- Natural Sciences: The study of the material world, which includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy.
- Social Sciences: The study of people and societies, covering fields like psychology, sociology, and economics.
- Formal Sciences: The study of abstract systems and logic, with mathematics being the prime example.
2. Who is considered the first scientist and what were the origins of scientific thought?
Many historians credit the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (4th century BC) as the first scientist. He was one of the first to use logical reasoning to describe and understand natural phenomena. The origin of science stems from this early human tendency to question the world and seek explanations based on cause and effect, moving away from purely mythological interpretations. This early work by ancient Greek and Roman thinkers laid the foundation for modern experimental science.
3. How did the understanding of the solar system change during the Scientific Revolution?
The Scientific Revolution dramatically shifted our view of the cosmos from an Earth-centred (geocentric) model to a Sun-centred (heliocentric) one. This change was driven by several key figures:
- Nicolaus Copernicus (16th century): He proposed the heliocentric model, challenging the long-held belief that Earth was the centre of the universe.
- Johannes Kepler (early 17th century): He mathematically developed the model of planetary motion, showing that planets move in elliptical orbits, not perfect circles.
- Galileo Galilei (17th century): Known as the 'father of Modern Physics', he used his invention, the telescope, to make observations of planets and moons that provided concrete evidence supporting the heliocentric theories of Copernicus and Kepler.
4. What is the difference between ancient science and modern science?
The primary difference lies in the methodology. Ancient science, as practised by figures like Aristotle, was largely based on observation, logical reasoning, and philosophical explanation. Scientific knowledge was often passed down through oral tradition before writing became common. In contrast, modern science is defined by the rigorous application of the scientific method, which emphasises systematic observation, hypothesis testing, and repeatable experimentation to validate theories.
5. Who are some key figures in the history of science and what were their major contributions?
Several key figures have shaped the history of science with their groundbreaking work. Some of the most notable include:
- Aristotle: Pioneered early scientific inquiry through logic and observation.
- Galileo Galilei: Considered the father of Modern Physics, he made crucial astronomical observations with the telescope.
- Sir Isaac Newton: Discovered the laws of gravity and motion, and is regarded as the founder of natural science.
- William Gilbert: Conducted early experiments with electricity and magnetism, proving the Earth itself is magnetised.
- Albert Einstein: Revolutionised physics with his theories of relativity.
6. What were some significant contributions to the history of science from ancient India?
Ancient India made several profound contributions to science and mathematics that had a lasting global impact. Key contributions include the development of the concept of 'zero' as a number, which was fundamental to the decimal system. In astronomy, scholars like Aryabhata accurately calculated the value of pi and proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis. In medicine, Sushruta is considered one of the earliest surgeons, with his work 'Sushruta Samhita' detailing complex surgical procedures.
7. Why was the coining of the term 'scientist' in the 19th century significant?
The term 'scientist' was first coined by William Whewell in the 19th century. Its creation was significant because it marked the formal recognition of science as a distinct and professional field of study. Before this, individuals engaged in scientific inquiry were often called 'natural philosophers'. The new term signified a shift towards a more structured, specialised, and community-based approach to discovering knowledge, separate from philosophy and based firmly on experimental evidence.
