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By a process of regular observation and classification, ancient Greek philosophers tried to make sense of the natural world.

By a process of regular observation and classification, ancient Greek philosophers tried to make sense of the natural world.

*It all began with [[Socrates]], who was born in 470 B.C. Socrates was a true [[philosopher]], a lover of wisdom, who tried to elicit the truth by what has become known as the [[Socratic method]], in which by a series of probing questions he forced successive further clarification of thought. [http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/aristot2.html]

*It all began with [[Socrates]] ... a true [[philosopher]], a lover of wisdom, who tried to elicit the truth by what has become known as the [[Socratic method]], in which by a series of probing questions he forced successive further clarification of thought. [http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/aristot2.html]

*Though [[Aristotle]]'s work in [[zoology]] was not without errors, it was the grandest biological synthesis of the time, and remained the ultimate authority for many centuries after his death. His observations on the anatomy of [[octopus]], [[cuttlefish]], crustaceans, and many other marine invertebrates are remarkably accurate, and could only have been made from first-hand experience with dissection. Aristotle described the embryological development of a [[chick]]; he distinguished [[whale]]s and [[dolphin]]s from [[fish]]; he described the chambered [[stomach]]s of [[ruminant]]s and the social organization of [[bee]]s; he noticed that some [[shark]]s give birth to live young -- his books on animals are filled with such observations, some of which were not confirmed until many centuries later. [http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/aristotle.html]

*Though [[Aristotle]]'s work in [[zoology]] was not without errors, it was the grandest biological synthesis of the time, and remained the ultimate authority for many centuries after his death. His observations on the anatomy of [[octopus]], [[cuttlefish]], crustaceans, and many other marine invertebrates are remarkably accurate, and could only have been made from first-hand experience with dissection. Aristotle described the embryological development of a [[chick]]; he distinguished [[whale]]s and [[dolphin]]s from [[fish]]; he described the chambered [[stomach]]s of [[ruminant]]s and the social organization of [[bee]]s; he noticed that some [[shark]]s give birth to live young -- his books on animals are filled with such observations, some of which were not confirmed until many centuries later. [http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/aristotle.html]