Hi Richard,

It's good to have you and Aurino active. The young children that are voicing their opinions are making me grumpy.

***Greeks didn't need Christianity to form their ideals. Nor did Lao Tzu, Confuscious, or any other Asian Philosopher.***

No, but once Christianity came on the scene in the academic world (which didn't happen until the 5th century with Augustine, and then was squelched by the Barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire), you begin to see a different approach to philosophy. First, Aristotle becomes more important than how the Greeks treated him. Another important change is that in Middle Age Christians ask questions which probably didn't occur to Aristotle. The focus is more in line with natural philosophy.

*** I think it would be a mistake to discredit such efforts in Asia, because I think this young discussion has not yet spoken of the accomplishments of the West v the accomplishments of the East and commented on why certain developments didn't occur where or why it took longer for one development here than there, etc...***

I don't want to discredit Asia. What I want to say is that Europe excelled far beyond what happened anywhere else in the world. The question is what would have happened had Christianity completely been surpressive to science (e.g., how modern creationists are), then in my opinion I don't think there would be any spot in the world much further along than Kepler and Galileo's time.

Warm regards, Harv

• Harvey, you have made me grumpy again too! - quiet - September 17, 2002 - 20:17 UTC
  • Sorry - harvey1 - September 17, 2002 - 20:24 UTC
    • I don't know who you are! - carefuluniverse - September 17, 2002 - 20:59 UTC
      • Well, I'm sorry if I offended you - harvey1 - September 17, 2002 - 21:11 UTC
        • You seem oblivious to ethics; maybe you will discuss ethics now - quiet - September 17, 2002 - 21:43 UTC
          • Why are you so angry with me? - harvey1 - September 17, 2002 - 22:03 UTC
            • "so angry"....Pray tell, how angry am I? - quiet - September 17, 2002 - 23:06 UTC
              • I don't understand - harvey1 - September 17, 2002 - 23:56 UTC
                • Harv, you stand accused of being a parttime troll - quiet - September 18, 2002 - 02:44 UTC
                  • Oh... - harvey1 - September 18, 2002 - 12:48 UTC
  • Tycho Brahe was the funniest of all Renaissance astronomers - stormcrow - September 18, 2002 - 03:24 UTC
    • Please support your assertion in the manner of today's students - quiet - September 18, 2002 - 03:40 UTC