| The Nest of the Hellenic Mind NEW ATHENS CITY AND ARTHUR KERRY (!?) BY:COSTAS MILIOTIS -ARCHIMEDES- This muted voice chose Archimedes for his next street. Why? Who was Archimedes? Ah! "Eureka, eureka!" Indeed, Archimedes was a prominent Greek mathematician and inventor. He wrote important works on plane and solid geometry, arithmetic and mechanical devices, geography, astronomy. Today, perhaps, he is considered the father of the laser beam! Archimedes (287-212 B.C.) was born in Syracuse, Sicily, a large island southwest of Italy. Sicily then was inhabited by Greeks and it was a part of Magna Grecia. In pure mathematics Archimedes foresaw several of the discoveries of today’s science; e.g., integral calculus in the disciplines of volumes, of curved solid figures, and plane geometry. It was he who proved that the volume of sphere is two-thirds the volume of a cylinder that circumscribes the sphere. See picture to the right. Here, we see Archimedes in his famous statement: "Give me a place to stand and I will move the world". In engineering, Archimedes defined the mechanics principle of the lever and is credited with the invention of the compound pulley. Some additional discoveries of Archimedes include the hydraulic screw for raising water from a lower to a higher level (Panama Canal?). He is best known for the law of hydrostatics. History has it that when Archimedes made this discovery, he stepped into his bathtub and through measurements and observations realized that the displaced water was equivalent to his own weight. Thus, from enthusiasm he ran out to the street naked (gymnos), shouting: "eureka! eureka!", or "I have found it! I have found it!" Archimedes was never involved in public service, but devoted his entire life to research and experiments. In 241 B.C. Archimedes did help the state by placing discoveries at its disposal for the defense of Syracuse from the invading Romans. Among his discoveries are the catapult and even more legendary a mirror system which was focused to the sun and had its rays reflected back on the invaders’ ships and especially to their sails, thus igniting them with flames. Could Archimedes be considered the father of the "laser" beam? There is a famous, yet ironic reference to Archimedes’ death. It is said that while he was concentrating on the drawing of a mathematical diagram on the sand, a Roman soldier asked him what he was doing. Because he was so absorbed in his calculations, Archimedes did not realize the impending danger and instead of withdrawing, he replied: "Μη μού τούς κύκλους τάραττε," or "do not disturb my diagrams." The Roman soldier found the response abstract and, despite orders to the contrary, he simply killed him. Archimedes’ mathematical thinking exhibits the imaginativeness and rigor of his life; as such, several of his works on mathematics and engineering survive, including, Floating bodies, The Sand Reckoner, Measurement of the Circle, Spirals, and Sphere and Cylinder. In accordance with his wishes, his tomb was marked by a sphere inscribed in a cylinder which was regarded by him as his most valuable achievement. Do we now start understanding Arthur Kerry’s possible street name connection? He was a builder and he had to use principles of mechanics discovered by Archimedes. As for the next street named after Mr. Aristotle (excellent ending), or "the one and only Aristotle," we will persevere and attempt to pursue how Arthur Kerry was influenced and briefly, who was Aristotle! When we say briefly, we mean precisely that, because to study Aristotle we will need several demanding courses or, better yet, an entire life time. -ARISTOTLE- Aristotle was only a: philosopher, psychologist, logician (deductive reasoning), moralist, political thinker, biologist, and yes, literary critique! He lived between 384 and 322 BC. He was a renaissance man before there was a Renaissance! He shares the distinction with Plato and Socrates for being the most famous of the Hellenic thinkers-philosophers. At the tender age of 17, he went to Athens to study in Plato’s Academy. He remained there for 20 years as a student and later as a teacher. Here we see Aristotle holding his works on ethics, which today's American politicians never heard of, and indicates with his right hand that we should keep our feet on the ground rather than on our heads! In 345 B.C. Aristotle went to Pella, the Capital of Macedonia. There, he became the tutor to king Phillip’s son Alexander (protector of man), who later became known as Alexander the Great. In 335 Aristotle returned to Athens and established the Lyceum. This school later became known as the Peripatetic: (walking or strolling) because the teachers and students were walking about the Lyceum grounds, thus stimulating intellectual-philosophical discourse. The life and contributions of Aristotle are vast, complex, and spectacular. We will attempt to provide a glimpse of Aristotle’s extraordinary mind so that we may be impressed enough to see why and how this Arthur Kerry came to immortalize Aristotle’s name in one of his streets. Furthermore, while we are presenting a bit of Floridian geographical history, we are providing an opportunity to learn intellectualism. But most importantly, we might, just might become motivated and direct our educational and professional direction towards the sciences and the many virtues Aristotle and the other named Hellenes of yesteryear endeavored This philosophical giant with the first name only of Aristotle is known for the following areas of thinking: Treatise on logic (Organon) Categories on Interpretation Prior Analytics The two Giants of Philosophy: To the left Plato with his index finger pointing to divine loftier things. Aristotle to the right pointing to the ground, thus indicating that we should be level headed! Topics on Sophistical Refutations II. Philosophy of Nature
III. Psychology
More precisely, Aristotle sought to base his anatomical theories on observation of facts. In this picture, Aristotle is leading medical students to a class in anatomy; On Respiration IV. Biology History of Animals; Zoology: Species
V. Metaphysics
VI. Esthetics
VII. Ethics
VIII. Political Science
Aristotle depicting peasants! Just a few areas of thinking, just a few! If you are mesmerized, welcome to the rest of the world who has been equally enthralled for the last two and a half millennia. Is the author expected to develop these few areas of thinking? As stated earlier, it would be an injustice and next to an impossibility to attempt even to do so. Thus, Aristotle, is considered one of the greatest thinkers of all time. His mind in the natural and social sciences greatly influenced virtually every area of modern thinking. Incidentally, he was the founder of the School of the Peripatetics; walking or strolling. The method of walking about was used to stimulate the mind, because the teachers and students were walking about the Lyceum grounds, thus stimulating intellectual-philosophical discourse. Furthermore, Aristotle's work affected Christianity in very basic concepts. As Aristotle asked: what are the objects of this life and what is existence? He and we need to know what is being? In his metaphysics, Aristotle denotes the study of the underlining principles of reality, i.e., time, space, matter, et al. In fact, the Middle Ages preeminent poet, Dante regarded Aristotle as the supreme authority on issues which were not addressed by Christian doctrine. The best known of this great giant’s written works are: "Organon" on the treatise on logic; "Rhetoric," the eloquence of public speaking; "Poetics;" "Zoology," the history of animals; "Metaphysics," the study of the nature of reality; "De Anima" on psychology; "Nichomachean Ethics;" and "Politics" or political science. Oomph! Are we closer to penetrating or remotely comprehending Arthur Kerry? Let’s go on to the next avenue on the pantheon of these Hellenic giants. -ARISTIDES- Aristides Ave., as in excellence, bears the name of another Athenian statesman and military genius. He was nicknamed "the just," or "O Δίκαιος." He was one of the Greek military leaders at the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. The Greeks defeated the mighty King Darius of Persia; today’s Iran. Aristides was banished by Themistocles, another general, for quarrels that are typical for Greeks. But, three years later Aristides was recalled from exile to help when Xerxes, another king of Persia, invaded Greece. In 479 B.C. Aristides, in the famous battle of Platea, led the victorious Athenians against the Persians. Soon thereafter, he played a prominent role in the formation of the confederacy of Greek city- states known as the Delian League. Aristides "the Just" remained a leading figure until his death. In a smaller point of triviality, here’s an interesting current event: TIME magazine in a major article in 1988, called Michael Dukakis, "Aristides the just", when the latter ran for the US presidency against George Bush and his vitriolic attacks. Mr. Arthur Kerry allows us next to navigate to Diogenes Street (from the family of Zeus). Earlier, we presented an inscription made on the concrete by Mr. Arthur Kerry relating to Diogenes. This inscription is the only one written on this development of New Athens City. Why? -Next Page- PLEASE Note: You have been listening to music by: Yanni |
