- Unit 8. Philosophy and Science
- Getting Started
  - What Are We Learning
  - Observe and Think
  - Map Your Mind
- Philosophy and Science
  - First Steps of Science
    - Some Scientific Principles
    - Numbers and Paradoxes
    - First Steps of Medicine
    - Greek Tecnological Achievements
  - Philosophy
    - Socrates
    - Plato
    - Aristotle
    - Epicureans and Stoics
    - A Wall for Reflection
- Self-Evaluation Quiz
- Complementary Activities
  - The Greek and Latin Roots of English
  - One Myth, One Song
  - Games, Comics and Stuff
- References

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# Numbers and Paradoxes

### The Golden Section

Seeking perfection, harmony and beauty led the Greeks to discover the so-called "golden rectangle" or "golden section". It is present through all the History of Art and, curiously enough, also in nature. This enlightening documentary by Donald duck will help you to understand the issue in a easy way.

## Activity

Spot the golden rectangles present in this photo of the Erechtheion.

### Zeno's paradoxes

Zeno of Elea was a Greek philosopher of southern Italy. Aristotle called him the inventor of the dialectic. He is best known for his paradoxes, which Bertrand Russell described as "immeasurably subtle and profound". One of the most famous ones is "Achilles and the tortoise".

## Activity

1. Find the etymology of the word paradoxe. Then define it according its etymology in your own words.

2. Ask your Maths teacher the scientific explanation of the paradox "Achilles and the tortoise". Then write it in your own words.

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