01-21-2005, 05:00 PM
Greek science was well on its way until Plato came along. Whatever his other contributions, Plate strangled Greek science in its infancy. He declared that themanipulation of mere matter was beneath a philosopher's dignity. A philosopher could observe, but he could not lay his hands on matter and manipulate it. In other words, experimentation was forbidden. The most a philosopher could do without losing dignity was to draw geometrical figures in the sand with a stick.<br>
At the root of this was Plato's (and other philosophers') desire to be accepted as aristocrats. In the ancient world aristocrats were the landed gentry and the accepted values of society were those of the landed gentry. An aristocrat lived of the produce and rents from his land, therefore this was the only respectable way to live. Anyone who actually worked for a living could not have personal worth, even if his work was creating great works of art. An aristocrat's pursuits were agriculture (through stewards) politics, government and war. No other pursuits were truly honorable. <p></p><i></i>
At the root of this was Plato's (and other philosophers') desire to be accepted as aristocrats. In the ancient world aristocrats were the landed gentry and the accepted values of society were those of the landed gentry. An aristocrat lived of the produce and rents from his land, therefore this was the only respectable way to live. Anyone who actually worked for a living could not have personal worth, even if his work was creating great works of art. An aristocrat's pursuits were agriculture (through stewards) politics, government and war. No other pursuits were truly honorable. <p></p><i></i>
