Comments on: See Me Discuss Ancient Science & Technology at Chabot Space & Science Center!

By: peterbollwerk

peterbollwerk — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 23:37:35 +0000

I called and they said the center is closed (other than for Dr. Carrier’s talk), so you should ONLY buy the $15 ticket.
Although I’m sure they’d appreciate people paying extra. The money will go to a good cause. =)

By: Richard Carrier

Richard Carrier — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:05:04 +0000

In reply to enkidu. There might be a video posted somewhere later, by the sponsors.

By: Megan E. O'Keefe

Megan E. O'Keefe — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 06:34:46 +0000

Already have my ticket, I’m very much looking forward to this!

By: enkidu

enkidu — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 11:14:40 +0000

I would very much love to attend, were I not half a world away. Any chance of a video?

I’ve read some of your earlier posts on classical science which were intriguing. I hope you are planning a book on the topic.

By: Richard Carrier

Richard Carrier — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 21:45:36 +0000

In reply to Paul DesJardins.

False. Everything they had in the Enlightenment as to methods (controlled experiments, falsifying tests, mathematical laws and models, etc.) they had in antiquity. The only difference was the increasing demarcation between good and bad methods.

Otherwise, the mathematical laws of buoyancy were experimentally proved by Archimedes. The index of refraction was invented by Ptolemy and experimentally measured for several substances (including, incidentally, in application to concave and convex lenses). Galen determined and experimentally proved the function of the kidneys. Hero proved that the mathematical laws of refraction were explained by the principle of least action. Hipparchus proved the precessional motion of the earth and correctly determined it’s cycle to be in the vicinity of 25,000 years. Eratosthenes correctly measured the circumference of the earth to within 10% actual. Ptolemy correctly measured the distance of the lunar orbit to be around 200,000 miles. Even before Aristotle the sphericity of the earth had been demonstrated by multiple independent scientific tests. Later Herophilus proved the brain to be the origin of all thought, and vivisection experiments proved the anatomical location of different functions within the brain.

I could go on.

If you didn’t know this, then this is why lectures like mine are much needed!

By: Paul DesJardins

Paul DesJardins — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:29:20 +0000

Science was an invention of the enlightenment. Not that there wasn’t technology prior to the development of what we know as science. Twining (making string and rope) is usually identified as one of the earliest technologies developed. But also we can include primitive metallurgy, cooking food and other early examples of people manipulating their environment for their useful advantages and comforts. Romans developed a lot of modern conveniences like the aqueducts, hot and cold running water and improvements in war tech. These were all developed without the benefit of science, the scientific method. And these developments were few and far between prior to the enlightenment when the developing concept of science and scientific method resulted in the the flood of advancements in the understanding and manipulation of our universe which continues through today. Maybe it would be correct to call these early developments pre-science; but calling them “science” is like what I read in another blog on this page where Mike Pence called George Washington a Republican.