PSH100A Environmental
Studies
Warner Pacific
College
July 28, 2014
Aristotle is the known as the father of
science and was one of the first to realize the importance of experimental
measures. He believed that only
more knowledge could be gained and that was a benefit to him and his
people. Some may say that since
Aristotle is the father of science that his application of the scientific
method opened the door to for many centuries to come. Aristotle would apply the method to almost anything,
including poetry and astronomy.
The Greeks were even the first to subdivide branches of science into
categories, including physics, biology, zoology and even poetry.
Aristotle’s
method was to first study what others have written about a subject, then look
for a general consensus of through the writings, then to perform a systematic
study of all the data related to the topic. Shuttleworth (2009) states that Aristotle’s systematic
approach was likely to be the first sign of the use of the scientific method,
but Muslim scholars we the key figures around the 10th century, in
the growth of the scientific method.
This started the mold and use of the scientific method.
Now
the question comes about – what exactly is scientific method? Scientific method is the traditional
approach to research. The method
consist of six steps to observe, question, generate a hypothesis, predict
outcomes, test subject, and examine the results. The method is used to observe experiments to generate results
whether they are positive or negative (Laposata & Withgott, 2014, p.10-12).
Western
culture is described as knowledge being derived from reason and reasoning is
often what is created while acting out the process of the scientific
method. Western culture began in
Ancient Greece just as the scientific method did. Western culture is assimilated with the values of independence,
happiness, and freedom.
Currently
Western culture dominates in the United States, Australia and Central European
nations. Western culture is not
limited to those that are Caucasian but is open to everyone.
Western
culture in today’s time, the 21 century, has evolved because of the scientific
method. The method is not limited
to just science alone. I recently
used a form of this scientific method while problem solving an issue that I
have in my office through a set of questions, hypothesis and testing. I was able to repeat my observations,
which are my problem, to my training group while my teammates questioned what
else is going on. With my team I
was able to get to the root cause of my problem and forecast potential solutions
to help solve my problem or make it better. Now that I have returned from training it is my job to
implement and test our predictions and report back to my teammates the success
or failure of our predictions.
When
I think about the evolution of Western culture I think of Henry Ford and the
trials that he went through as the creator of Ford Motor Company. He had to test and retest after several
outcomes, followed by analyzing data and findings. Ford was an innovator and has created a legacy. This legacy over time has gone through
various series of testing and results to make the Ford better and evolve with
time and technology.
The
scientific method has afforded Western culture the opportunity to grow and
evolve. Western culture is ever
changing and growing and utilized in more than just the field of science. Aristotle started something great in
Ancient Greece and we, as the Western culture, have him to thank for this great
evolution.
References
Laposata, M.,
& Withgott, J. (2014). Enviornment: The Science Behind the Stories.
Glenview, IL. Pearson Education.
Shuttleworth,
Martyn. (August, 2009). History of the Scientific Method. https://explorable.com/history-of-the-scientific-method
[retrieved on July 26, 2014].
Western Culture Global. (2009). What is Western Culture? http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html
[retrieved on July 26, 2014]
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