UNIV2710 Exam #2 October 12, 2001 NAME_______________________
Sheppard/Smith
Identification. In one or two short sentences, identify the following:
1. Pythagoras,
Greek philosopher and mathematician. He claimed that "All is number" and believed that there was a mathematical basis to the universe. He established a secret brotherhood part of whose purpose was to study philosophy and mathematics. Among their discoveries was that of the existence of irrational numbers.
2. Pendentive and Flying Buttress (identify and explain the purpose of each),
The Pendentive is that architectural feature that is necessary to support a dome over a square walled enclosure; it is vaguely a curved triangle in shape.
Flying buttress is the architectural feature used in gothic cathedrals to support walls. They resemble columns outside the building with arches connected to the supported walls.
(Pictures were acceptable with the description).
3. Stoicism,
The philosophical movement founded by a Greek philosopher (Zeno of Citium) which was much admired by the Romans. According to the philosophy one is to live within the natural order of things. Pain is unavoidable and needs to be endured. Pleasure is to be accepted when available. One tries to eliminate desire so as to eliminate possible causes of pain.
4. Averroes,
The Moslem philosopher who was highly influenced by Aristotle. He wrote a number of commentaries on Aristotle and influenced Thomas Aquinas.
5. What were the two main wars that the ancient Greeks fought? (Who were the antagonists and who won.)
i. The Persian war - between the Greek states and Persia - Greece won
ii. The Peloponnesian war - between Athens and Sparta (and their respective allies) - Sparta won.
Short essay. In one or two paragraphs answer the following questions. Make sure to incorporate facts and ideas that come from our readings, labs, and class discussions.
1. Compare (and contrast) the two cities of Augustine to the theory of forms of Plato
Main points:
Two cities:
City of man - the earthly empirical world.
City of God - the spiritual realm and paradise.
One should concentrate on the city of God since the earthly realm is transitory and in not important toward final salvation.
Forms of Plato: The empirical world is only a shadow of the world of forms and ideals. True reality is in the realm of ideals. Perfection is in the realm of ideals. So the true reality according to Plato is the realm of forms. This can be compared to the spiritual reality of St. Augustine since Augustine’s city of God and Plato’s realm of forms are the truly important realms. Plato’s world of shadows can be compared to the city of man since this city, like the city of God, is transitory. Like Plato’s view of empirical reality the city of man and corrupt and imperfect.
2. Discuss the Arabian/Islamic contribution to Western civilization previous to the Renaissance.
Possible contributions:
The preservation of ancient books (this is important and you must mention it)
The establishment of centers of learning (in Baghdad) where scholars from all different backgrounds could intermingle.
Major advancements in medicine (and dentistry).
Spices, perfumes, textiles.
The transmission of ideas such as paper, soap, bathing.
Arabic numerals.
Mathematics texts. (I don’t remember if this was mentioned in class or in the film - but it was a major contribution. Our work "Algebra" comes from the title of an important Moslem mathematics texts.)
(There were other possibilities.)