Natural philosophy includes dividing ideas into empirical, rational, and irrational as well as understanding their philosophical context. Philosophical context includes understanding the timing of discoveries and rediscoveries as well as the philosophers behind them and their publications.
38 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 18: Peter Abelard and Universals Born in 1079 in Le Pallet, a small village in France, Peter Abelard hailed from a noble lineage. His father, a knight of the local lord, intended for his son to follow in his footsteps. Instead, Peter chose a path of knowledge. His brilliance […]
Peter Abelard (1079-1141) Read More »
42 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 17: Alhazen and the Senses Alhazen was born in Basra around 965 CE, a city located in present-day Iraq. In his 30s, Alhazen faced the challenge of his life. He was “commissioned” to produce a solution for regulating the unpredictable and deadly flooding of the Nile. As he delved
Alhazen (965-1040) Read More »
46 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 16: Al-Farabi and Intellect Al-Farabi was born along the Silk Road circa 872 CE in the city of Farab, in present-day Kazakhstan. Al-Farabi’ thought was rooted in Platonic and Aristotelian frameworks, yet it seamlessly wove in elements of Islamic thinking. He imagined an ideal society, steered by virtuous leaders
Al-Farabi (872-950) Read More »
73 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 14: Badarayana and Karma Badarayana is the sage who wrote the Brahma Sutras. Badarayana is placed at circa 200 CE, but the truth is, we don’t know when he lived. In my research, I found dates ranging from the 4th century BCE to the 4th century CE . While
Badarayana, circa 200 CE (+/- 300 years) Read More »
82 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 12: Philo and Abrahamic Philosophy Philo of Alexandria, was born in the dynamic environment before the split of Judaism and Christianity. He was born around the year 20 BCE and became an important Jewish leader delving into the enigmatic world of Hellenistic Jewish religion. Pictured: Portrait from 1500s. He
Philo of Alexandria (circa 20 BCE to circa 55 CE) Read More »
102 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 7: Heraclitus and Your Worldview Chapter 7 in part one transitions from Eastern luminaries to their counterparts in the West. The pre-Socratic philosophers, guided by a new rational perspective, challenged the stronghold of mythology, and propelled human thought onto a trajectory marked by reason. Little is known for sure about
Heraclitus (circa 535-475 BCE) Read More »
103 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 6: Gautama Buddha and Buddhism In a much simpler time, the royal family of the Shakya dynasty lived in a palace located at the capital of the Shakya kingdom in present-day Nepal. Around 563 BCE, a boy named Siddhartha Gautama was born in the palace. At the age of
Gautama Buddha (circa 563-486 BCE) Read More »
105 Generations Ago 30 Phil, Chapter 4: Laozi and Daoist Philosophy The life of Laozi is shrouded in mystery, but he is the first philosopher in “30 Philosophers” that attempts to construct a precise biography. The Spring and Autumn Period of China spanned nearly three centuries starting in 770 BCE, and Laozi lived about in the
Laozi (604-517 BCE) Read More »
112 Generations Ago (from 2020 CE) 30 Phil, Chapter 3: Gargi and the Concept of Holism Gargi lived in India around 800 BCE, give or take a century, but we do not know her lifespan. We know about her from early Vedic Tradition, specifically from the early Vedas. Gargi is one of the earliest known
Gargi Vachaknavi (circa 800 BCE) Read More »
185 Generations Ago (from 2020 CE) 30 Phil, Chapter 2: Shuruppak and Paternal Wisdom Sumerian civilization consisted of over 30 city-states, among which Ur and Shuruppak were among the more prominent. We know about King Shuruppak from the Sumerian King List, an ancient text where he appears as the last king before a great flood.
King Shuruppak (circa 2600 BCE) Read More »
In the tropical rainforests of Mesoamerica, the ancient Olmecs unlock the secrets of the cacao pod. By fermenting, roasting, and grinding the seeds, they create the bitter beverage chocolate. This divine elixir lays the foundation for chocolate’s enduring legacy, cherished by the Mayans and Aztecs as a ceremonial drink, a currency, and a medicine.
In the highlands of Mexico, the story of maize, or corn, begins with its ancestor, teosinte. Through centuries of selective breeding, Indigenous peoples transform this humble grass into corn.
In the Neolithic villages of Poland, milk, a nourishing gift from domesticated animals, is left to curdle, giving rise to the earliest form of cheese.
Who drank the first beer? Getting buzzed definitely has very deep historical roots. The earliest evidence of any fermented beverage is fruit-based, aka wine, and comes from the Jiahu site in China and dates back to around 7,000 BCE (9,000 years ago). In addition to fermented beverage residue in China, we have grain-based, aka beer/ale,
Found in Morocco, this natural pebble with human-like features is possibly the oldest known example of a figurine or representation of the human form.
Located in France, the cave contains hundreds of wall paintings of animals, abstract symbols, and hand prints.
Chauvet Cave Paintings Read More »
Discovered in Indonesia, these hand stencils and depictions of animals are among the oldest known figurative artworks.
Earliest known symbol use in the Africa/Middle East zone. Located in South Africa, the cave contains engraved ochre pieces, which are among the earliest known forms of abstract art.
Blombos Cave Engravings Read More »
Found in central India, these cupules (circular hollows on rock surfaces) are among the earliest known forms of rock art. They were likely created by a species like Homo erectus or Homo heidelbergensis and not Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens are not known to be in India until around 40,000 years ago. Homo erectus is known
Bhimbetka Petroglyphs, Cupules Read More »
The groundbreaking discovery that humans were making bread 14,000 years ago, before the advent of agriculture, was published in 2018. Since grain is easy to grow, does this suggest agriculture might have started a few thousand years earlier? Under study, but the discovery of bread-making from around 14,000 years ago indeed suggests that humans were experimenting
Bread Making Pushed Back Read More »
