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00:00:00 – 00:09:38
The video, presented by Professor Francisco Porfírio, explores the evolution of Cosmology from its mythological origins to a more empirical and rational framework. Highlighting early Greek thinkers such as Thales of Miletus, Pythagoras, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Democritus, Leucippus, and Parmenides, the discussion emphasizes their quest to understand the universe's fundamental principle, or "arché." These philosophers shifted from myth-based explanations, influenced by interactions with Eastern cultures, towards seeking logical, cause-and-effect relationships governed by natural laws. This transition marks the inception of natural sciences and the philosophy of causality, with the concept of "kinesis" (movement) playing a crucial role in understanding the transformations in nature through empirical observation. The video concludes with an encouragement to engage further with the content through likes, shares, and subscriptions.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Professor Francisco Porfírio introduces the concept of Cosmology and explains its historical context and significance in the development of philosophy. He contrasts Cosmology with Cosmogony, which uses myths to explain the universe’s origins. Porfírio elaborates on humanity’s innate quest for understanding the universe and the origins of religion in these searches. He discusses how ancient Greeks used mythology to explain the universe’s genesis until thinkers like Thales of Miletus questioned these mythological explanations. This shift towards seeking empirical origins marked the early movement away from myth-based Cosmology influenced by interactions with Eastern cultures, such as the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Hindus.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the early interactions between Greek philosophers and Eastern thinkers, who had an existing philosophical understanding of the world. These early Greek philosophers, including Thales, Pythagoras, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Democritus, Leucippus, and Parmenides, sought to understand the fundamental principle, or “arché,” of the universe. They observed that the universe was in constant change and hypothesized that these changes were not due to divine intervention but rather governed by cause and effect relationships. This line of thought marked the beginning of the philosophy of causality. They aimed to find a logical, rational explanation for the origins of the universe by closely observing nature, thus making the search for the “arché” a fundamental philosophical quest.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the discussion focuses on the early stages of Western and Greek philosophy, particularly the shift from mythological explanations of the universe’s origin to a more empirical and observational approach. It emphasizes the importance of doubting previous mythological knowledge and seeking answers through observation and practical experience. This marks the beginning of natural sciences, despite the disciplines of physics, chemistry, and biology not being well-defined at the time. The concept of “kinesis” (movement) is introduced, suggesting that transformations in the world can be understood through reasoning and empirical observation of nature’s constant changes, such as seasonal variations.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker explains the concept of kinesis, which refers to the rational understanding and interpretation of changes and transformations of objects in the world, as perceived by the Greeks. The speaker then encourages viewers to like, share, and subscribe to the channel, and mentions that questions can be addressed by accessing a link in the description.