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Contemporary's GED Science
Robert Mitchell

History and Nature of Science

Chapter Outline


History and Nature

(See page 139)

History and nature: the maturation of science from a primitive search for the truth to a logical, systematic search for understanding about the natural world.

Science as a Human Endeavor

(See pages 139–143)

Scientists have a variety of common characteristics:

  • a curiosity about the world
  • a preference to work alone or with others
  • a pride in their work
  • a desire to talk about their work
  • a tendency to be influenced by their own beliefs, values, and religion
  • a tendency to be influenced by the needs of society

Historical Perspectives

(See pages 144–148)

The science of primitive people:

  • Spirits or souls are the givers and maintainers of life.
  • Fire has a religious importance and is a divine gift.
  • Demons cause natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
  • Evil spirits cause disease.
  • Causes and effects are a demonstration of the will of spiritual beings.

The science of Aristotle:

  • The world is composed of a fixed number of types of individuals (species).
  • Each individual grows according to a pattern.
  • Earth is the center of the universe.
  • All things are made of the same four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.
  • Life forms do not change (evolve) over time.
  • All knowledge comes from experience.
  • The heavens move in a circle around Earth.

The science of the Renaissance:

  • The universe is not centered around humans.
  • Earth and its life forms have properties that can be studied and understood.
  • Cause-and-effect relationships depend on laws of nature such as gravity and the conservation of energy.
  • The human body contains organs and organ systems.
  • Earth is not flat.
  • Technology can be used to simplify human life (the printing press).
  • The Moon and the planets orbiting the Sun have distinct properties.

The science of today:

  • Scientific explanations must be logically consistent with known facts.
  • Scientific explanations must be capable of being confirmed by experiment and observation.
  • Scientific explanations must form a basis from which accurate predictions can be made.
  • Scientific explanations must be open to criticism and revision as more information becomes available.

Milestones in Modern Science

(See pages 149–152)

A milestone in science is an idea or discovery that gives a huge jump in our understanding of the natural world. Listed below are a few of these milestones:

  • the evolution of Earth
  • the evolution of species
  • the structure of matter
  • the molecular basis of heredity