Greek Math and Astronomy

(Originally written July 14, 2006 in Book 4)

The History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell

Chapter 24 - Early Greek Mathematics and Astronomy

While the Greek advancements in philosophy, literature, and art can be judged on personal preferences, their advancements in geometry is unquestionable. Mathematical demonstration originated nearly entirely in Greece.

The Greeks discovered irrationals.

Then Eudoxus (408-355 BC) discovered the geometrical theory of proportion, (a:b=c:d, if ad=bc)

Archimedes was able to define π as being less than 3 1/7 and greater than 3 10/71.

Euclid, the preeminent geometer in Greece was from Alexandria and lived shortly after the death of Aristotle. Euclid studied geometry and mathematics for reasons most Greeks did, a pure love of theory and not for any practical usage.

Centuries of observations by the Egyptians and Babylonians laid the foundation for the marvelous advancements made in Astronomy by the Greeks.

Anaximander was the first to suppose that nothing held the earth up.

Pythagoras was the first to suppose the earth to be spherical.

Anaxagoras discovered the moon shines via reflection. (Greeks also believed that the sun shined via reflection as well).

Heraclides discovered the the earth rotated once a day on its axis.

Seleucus estimated the lunar month within one second of error.

Despite being off in figures, Ancient Greek astronomy was done correctly according to scientific standards. Had they possessed better tools of precision they may have nailed the numbers down exactly.