Greek Science : Its Meaning for Us

After a brief discussion of the achievement in science of the pre-Hellenic peoples, Professor Farrington describes the various phases of the development of science among the Greeks.

The story begins about 600 B.C. and the first couple of centuries are conspicuous for the boldness of their thought and the rapidity with which the foundations of many of the chief branches of science were laid. In the next two or three centuries the Greeks continued to accumulate information and also showed their logical powers by systematizing their knowledge into a regular encyclopaedia of the sciences.

In this second period, however, their creativity was less and, after it, there was a period of stagnation. This was interrupted in the second century A.D. by the appearance of the great astronomer and geographer, Ptolemy, and the great physician, Galen, with whom Professor Farrington ends his story.

Greek Science is not only the best account of its subject, it is also a pioneering essay on the sociology of knowledge.