Ancient Greek Philosophy and the Roots of Philosophy of Science

Abstract

In this paper it will be argued that many of the central issues discussed in contemporary philosophy of science were clearly formulated and vigorously debated in the ancient world. Reference will also be made of the fact that the ancient philosopher of science was in many respects in a better position than his twentieth century colleague due to the fact that the philosopher and scientist were much more closely related to each other than is the case in present times. The relation they stood in was frequently one of identity. The following serves as examples Aristotle, who invented philosophy of science in his Posterior Analytics, also invented biological taxonomy; Galen, the greatest physician of his time, wrote voluminously on logic and other matters of philosophical import; Sextus Empiricus, the source of Pyrrhonian Scepticism, was, as his sobriquet, a practising Empiricist doctor.Although the philosophy of the apologists of the Presocratic era can to a certain extent support this view, there is no substitute for the type of detailed research carried out by Aristotle and his colleagues in the Lyceum. One of the main reasons for following this trend is that this paper should be seen as an appreciation for the work done by the great philosophers of Ancient Greek philosophy. The arguments and analysis of Plato and Aristotle's philosophy of science, will betray the authors appreciation for the research done in this regard by scholars such as Lloyd, Gotthelf Lennox, Kullman and Sorabji. The paper will be concluded by arguing that no Ancient Greek philosopher who's work contain doctrines associated with the philosophy of science, could be understood sufficiently without a thorough investigation into the theories of this nature.