First Essay Feedback These Essays were graded liberally as I figured there would be issues

The actual Essay Question In your essay you should attempt to basically explain why the Greeks thought that "structured" knowledge is required to explain various observed phenomena. That is, discuss why the Greeks thought it was necessary to put a framework onto the natural world, in order to understand it. In your essay you should attempt to basically explain why the Greeks thought that "structured" knowledge is required to explain various observed phenomena. That is, discuss why the Greeks thought it was necessary to put a framework onto the natural world, in order to understand it.

Common Problems Failure to really pay attention to the question was asked. (see 4 bolded terms in previous slide) Failure to really pay attention to the question was asked. (see 4 bolded terms in previous slide) Very few even defined the “framework” Very few even defined the “framework” Instead, many wrote a small book report of facts about this period. Instead, many wrote a small book report of facts about this period. Some took this as a departure point and wrote about fear of the unknown in ancient and modern times or some other thing that I said was one of the themes of the class Some took this as a departure point and wrote about fear of the unknown in ancient and modern times or some other thing that I said was one of the themes of the class

Don’t make Proclamations Proclamations are statements with out evidence. This was a rampant problem in this essay. Examples: “Fear of change is also a reason why both the Ancient Greeks and people today have to apply a framework to nature” “Upon examination of some of their key works, they believed that the whole world could be explained in terms of a structure and that mathematics could be used to completely explain nature”

More Examples “Math helped the Greeks put limits on the world and universe surrounding them” “While many alternative scientific theories existed, objective knowledge was shaped by a select few in order to ensure continuity and credibility within the system” “ It also made the universe appear much more simple, which in turn made the unknown less frightening. “

More common problems Most essays were quite redundant (stating the same concept at last more than once) Most essays were quite redundant (stating the same concept at last more than once) Most essays did not have a structured argument and often included non-germaine items – some focused too much on Empedocles and theory of solids. Most essays did not have a structured argument and often included non-germaine items – some focused too much on Empedocles and theory of solids. Too much emphasis placed on Math as defining structure knowledge. Math is just an operational language here. Too much emphasis placed on Math as defining structure knowledge. Math is just an operational language here. Many people were writing about Math is if something has a mathematical explanation then it must be correct Many people were writing about Math is if something has a mathematical explanation then it must be correct

Example First Paragraph Prior to the arrival of early Greek Science, most of humanity was engaged with a various mythological explanations of the occurrences of many natural events. In turn, these belief systems lead to many different forms of rituals and appeals to a plethora of gods and/or mystical entities to appease in order to avoid negative consequences in nature. In such a system, nature appears to be mostly chaotic and arbitrary. (This sets the situation up) Prior to the arrival of early Greek Science, most of humanity was engaged with a various mythological explanations of the occurrences of many natural events. In turn, these belief systems lead to many different forms of rituals and appeals to a plethora of gods and/or mystical entities to appease in order to avoid negative consequences in nature. In such a system, nature appears to be mostly chaotic and arbitrary. (This sets the situation up)

Continued This was unsettling to early Greek philosophers who basically demanded that Nature acted rationally instead of at the whims of Gods. By removing the supernatural explanations, the Greeks were then producing a much less mystical view of Nature and replacing it by a more logical and ordered view. (This sets up the framework) This was unsettling to early Greek philosophers who basically demanded that Nature acted rationally instead of at the whims of Gods. By removing the supernatural explanations, the Greeks were then producing a much less mystical view of Nature and replacing it by a more logical and ordered view. (This sets up the framework)

Continued. Fundamental to the Greek approach was that Nature was understandable and to achieve that understanding the Greeks posed a framework for observation and discussion about natural events. The foundations of this framework is that nature, at all times, acts in a logical and ordered way and that there is a rational cause and effect explanation for the occurrence of all things. (This defines the framework). Fundamental to the Greek approach was that Nature was understandable and to achieve that understanding the Greeks posed a framework for observation and discussion about natural events. The foundations of this framework is that nature, at all times, acts in a logical and ordered way and that there is a rational cause and effect explanation for the occurrence of all things. (This defines the framework)

Structured Knowledge This makes Nature understandable and in so doing removes our fear of unexpected or unexplained events. Moreover, the Greeks distilled the essence of Nature down to 4 essential elements (Earth, Air, Fire and Water) and proposed a system in which all interactions in Nature could be explained between various interactions of these 4 primal elements. Over the centuries, this notion would lead to ideas of reductionism and determinism as the principle way that knowledge is structured so as to explain Nature. This makes Nature understandable and in so doing removes our fear of unexpected or unexplained events. Moreover, the Greeks distilled the essence of Nature down to 4 essential elements (Earth, Air, Fire and Water) and proposed a system in which all interactions in Nature could be explained between various interactions of these 4 primal elements. Over the centuries, this notion would lead to ideas of reductionism and determinism as the principle way that knowledge is structured so as to explain Nature.