Dialogue of Civilizations Led To the Birth of Modern Science - Essay Example

? Dialogue of Civilizations Led To the Birth of Modern Science of Dialogue of Civilizations Led To the Birth of Modern Science Over the years, prominent historians, philosophers, and scientists have had diverse explanations regarding the genesis of modern science (Harrison, 2010). They have agreed and disagreed in some of the aspects of what led to the birth of modern science. There are those who have argued that western civilization is what led to the birth of modern science. On the other hand, there are those who disagree with this argument and argue that the birth of modern science was a consequence of the in the integration of various civilizations (Moore, 2009). Those who hold this view argue that dialogue of civilizations from Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa is what led to the birth of modern science. One of the prominent scholars who hold this view is Noah Efron. Noah Efron, in his “That Christianity Gave Birth to Modern Science” in Galileo Goes to Jail, says that a dialogue of civilizations led to the birth of modern science (Numbers, 2009). This paper will discuss how a dialogue of civilizations really led to the birth of modern science. In addition, it will discuss what the relationship between science and religion in the Africa, Middle East, and Asia tell us about the subsequent history of the dialogue of civilizations and modern science. Critical examination by a number of prominent historians, philosophers, and scientists on the grand question of the birth or genesis of modern science have often indicated that modern science was a product of a dialogue of civilizations from many parts of the world (Brooke and Numbers, 2011). There is a consensus among most of them that different cultures and civilizations is what contributed to the birth and development of modern science. They present the view that modern science was initiated through the dialogue of several civilizations and oppose the Eurocentric view that modern science was essentially rooted in Europe (Moore, 2009). There have been arguments by some historians and scientists that tend to undermine the contributions of most of the non-European civilizations to the birth of the modern science. These views have ignored the role of a dialogue of civilizations in the birth of modern science. Besides, while these views tend to acknowledge that there were developments and inventions in other civilizations that might have led to birth of modern science, they fail to acknowledge them as being critical to the birth and development of modern science (Harrison, 2010). Those holding Eurocentric views on this subject argue that modern science would not have developed in any other culture because of the absence of cultural factors that were present in Europe such as the Greek heritage, Roman concept of law, or the Christian religion (Numbers, 2009). History of science is awash with evidence of critical and unique developments and inventions that were achieved by Chinese, Arab, Indian, and Egyptian civilizations that serve to show how dialogue of civilizations led to the birth of modern science (Horton, 1997). The inventions and developments by these civilizations have had huge influence on the findings that scientists made throughout the birth and rise of modern science. The combination of these civilizations and European civilizations brought enormous achievements in science. Even those who argue that European civilization was the main contributing factor to the birth of science also agree that European scientists integrated discoveries across different civilizations in order to create and subsequently develop modern science (Brooke and Numbers, 2011). This point of view by those holding Eurocentric view regarding the birth of science is in itself a strong proof of how a dialogue of civilizations led to the birth of modern science (Harrison, 2010). Great findings and discoveries in various civilizations at different periods in history encouraged and guided the scientific process and had very positive influence in the birth of modern science. It is important to note that even though the individualistic scientific findings of each civilization varied in achievements, their impact on the birth of modern science cannot be disputed (Brooke and Numbers, 2011). It is true that Europe has taken the greatest credit for the birth of modern science. However, European culture could not have single-handedly led to the birth of modern science without the contribution of the other cultures. Numbers (2009) argues that there was extensive transmission of ideas to Europe from other civilizations that significantly contributed to the birth of modern science. For example, the Chinese inventions of paper, mechanical clocks, and compass played fundamental role in the birth and development of modern science. The “Wider Copernican Revolution” which in actual fact led to the birth of modern science may possibly not have been achieved without the great findings and studies made by scientists from Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, and Arab cultures . These cultures contributed to this revolution through The Modern Atomic Revolution, various studies on cosmologies and fusing solar, the development of mathematical rules that are universal, and the Alhazen Optical Revolution among others (Moore, 2009). It is no doubt that the birth of modern science was a result of a dialogue of civilizations. However, it should be noted that while various civilizations contributed to the birth of modern science, the birth of modern science greatly happened in Europe. The makers of scientific revolution including Kepler, Descartes, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton were all in Europe at that time (Brooke and Numbers, 2011). These scientists had to selectively appropriate important and relevant ideas from other cultures, transformed them, and created new concepts that were the hallmark of modern science. In other words, it can be said that while the birth of modern science is rooted on a multicultural base, most of its accomplishments were in Europe. According to Moore (2009), the main reason why modern science could not have developed anywhere else but in Europe was because the non-European cultures (at that time), were not able to individually acquire and absorb diverse branches of knowledge from different cultures including the Indian, Arab, Chinese, and Egyptian as Europe was. On its part, Europe was successful in achieving modern science due to its ability of bringing together different branches of knowledge and develops them within the Copernican model framework (Harrison, 2010). The relationship between science and religion in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia tell a lot about the subsequent history of modern science and the dialogue of civilizations. As has been mentioned, these civilizations significantly contributed towards the birth of modern science. However, modern science mainly developed in Europe and barely in these other civilizations; the subsequent history of modern science majorly revolved around Europe until the last century when other cultures embraced modern science in considerable extent. This development can be attributed to the relationship between science and religion in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Relationship between science and religion in Asia tend to be closely related because Asian religious worldviews tend not to assume an all-powerful Supreme Being. Asians often see the world as dynamic and interconnected. Therefore, they tend to engage scientific accounts with little difficulty (Lopez, 2008). Nonetheless, it should be noted that some Asians have monotheistic traditions and subscribe to Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions. This relationship between science and religion in Asia tell us a lot about the subsequent history of modern science and the dialogue of civilizations. The Asians view of the world as dynamic and interconnected explains why they were able to embrace science in their societies easily. For example, the Chinese inventions of paper, mechanical clocks, and compass played fundamental role in the birth and development of modern science (Sivin, 1995). In Asian countries such as South Korea, Singapore, China, and India modern science has developed tremendously especially within the last one century. This view was also critical in the dialogue of civilizations as Asian nations particularly India and China made unique and critical contributions to the birth of modern science (Zysk, 1991). The relationship between science and religion in Africa is quite complex as Africa has had many religious practices and claims particularly in the subsequent history of modern science. Christianity, Islam and the African traditional religion have all had significant place in African religion as a whole (Horton, 1997). What is clear, however, Africa has had a comparatively lower mastery of science than Europe and even Asia since the birth of modern science. This can be attributed to what can be referred to as religious dogma. For a long time, Africans have emphasized on religion rather than science and this created powerful limitations to their scientific thinking. It is for this reason that apart from Egypt, there is little or no mention of any other African culture that was part of a dialogue of civilizations that led to the birth of modern science (Horton, 1997). The same can be said of the relationship between science and religion in the Middle East. Middle East predominantly subscribe to Islam. From an Islamic perspective, science is linked to the concept of One God; that is, nature is not a separate entity from God, the world, and humanity. Therefore, the pursuit of scientific knowledge should be within the confines of Islam as a religion (Moore, 2009). This has greatly limited development of science in the subsequent history of modern science. However, this understanding contributed to the birth of modern science as pursuit of science was tolerated especially prior to colonization in Middle East (Numbers, 2009). A good example is the Alhazen Optical Revolution that was instrumental in the birth of modern science. In conclusion, it is evidently clear that there is sufficient evidence to support Noah Efron’s assertion that a dialogue of civilizations led to the birth of modern science. As has been noted, the birth of modern science was a result of the dialogue of various civilizations. Various civilizations including Arab, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, and European made critical and unique developments and inventions that had great influence on the findings scientists made throughout the birth and subsequent development of modern science. This assertion disabuses the Eurocentric view that the birth of modern science is entirely rooted in Europe. However, the discussion acknowledges that while modern science developed majorly in Europe it benefitted enormously from contributions of other civilizations across the world. References Brooke, J. H., & Numbers, R. L. (2011). Science and religion around the world. New York: Oxford University Press. Harrison, P. (2010). The Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion. Cambridge University Press. Horton, R. (1997). Patterns of thought in Africa and the West: Essays on magic, religion, and science. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Lopez, D. S. (2008). Buddhism & science: A guide for the perplexed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Moore, J. (2009). Religion and Science. Cambridge University Press. Numbers, R. L. (2009). Galileo goes to jail: And other myths about science and religion. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Sivin, N. (1995). Medicine, philosophy and religion in ancient China: Researches and reflections. Aldershot: Variorum. Zysk, K. G. (1991). Asceticism and healing in ancient India: Medicine in the Buddhist monastery. New York: Oxford University Press. Read More