ROMEO A.

MARCILLANA BSISM 1-A 10-31-2023

Profile of Theorist
PROFILE OF THEORIST

CLAUDIUS PTOLEMAEUS (PTOLEMY)

Personal Information

Famous Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer,

Claudius Ptolemaeus, more commonly known as Ptolemy.
Ptolemy was born around 100 AD, most likely in Egypt. There is
little known about his personal life, but his works suggest that
he spent a significant portion of his life in Alexandria.

Education
Information about Ptolemy's formal education is not well-
documented. However, given his extensive knowledge and
contributions, it can be inferred that he received a high level of
education, likely in Alexandria, which was a major center of learning in the ancient world.

Theory
Ptolemy is best known for his work in astronomy. His most significant contribution is the
geocentric model of the universe, known as the Ptolemaic system. This model proposed that the
Earth was at the center of the universe, with the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets revolving around
it in complex orbits.

Development of His Theory

Ptolemy developed his geocentric model based
on centuries of astronomical observations, as
well as the philosophical and scientific ideas of
his time. He compiled his theories in a work
known as the Almagest, which was a
comprehensive treatise of the knowledge of the
cosmos as understood by the Greeks.

Ptolemy's model was widely accepted for over a thousand years until the heliocentric model
proposed by Copernicus gained acceptance. Despite being ultimately disproven, Ptolemy's
work had a profound influence on the development of astronomy and science as a whole.

ARISTOTLE
Personal Information
Aristotle was born in 384 BC in Stagira, a small town in northern
Greece. His father, Nichomachus, was a physician to King
Amyntas III of Macedon, which exposed Aristotle to the
Macedonian court at an early age.

Education
Aristotle moved to Athens at the age of 17 to study at Plato's
Academy, where he remained for nearly 20 years. His time at
the Academy influenced his philosophical thinking and honed
his skills in observation, analysis, and writing.
Theory
Aristotle's theories span a wide range of disciplines, including logic, metaphysics, philosophy of
mind, ethics, political theory, aesthetics, rhetoric, physics, and biology.
One of his key theories is the. He proposed that everything in nature has a purpose or 'final
cause'. For instance, the purpose of a seed is to grow into a plant.

In ethics, his famous theory is 'virtue ethics', where he argued that moral virtue is a habit and
that a virtuous person is someone who has ideal character traits.

Development of His Theory:

Aristotle developed his theories through a combination of
empirical observation and logical reasoning. Unlike many
philosophers of his time, Aristotle placed great emphasis on
direct observation of the natural world. He believed that all
knowledge comes from sensory experience, which then can
be processed through logical reasoning.

Aristotle's theories have had a profound influence on Western philosophy and science, shaping
much of the subsequent scientific and philosophical thought.

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS

Personal Information
Nicolaus Copernicus was born on
February 19, 1473, in Torun, Poland. He
belonged to a family of merchants, but he
was raised by his uncle, a bishop, after
the death of his father.

Education
Copernicus started his education at the
University of Krakow in Poland, where he studied liberal arts. He then went on to study canon
law and medicine at the universities of Bologna and Padua in Italy. However, his passion was
always astronomy, and he pursued this interest alongside his formal education.

Theory
Copernicus is most famous for his heliocentric theory of the universe. This theory proposed that
the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe, with the Earth and other planets
revolving around it. This was revolutionary at the time, as the prevailing belief was the
geocentric model, where the Earth was considered the center of the universe.

Development of His Theory

Copernicus developed his heliocentric theory through
careful observation and mathematical calculations. He
noticed inconsistencies with the geocentric model, such
as the retrograde motion of planets, and began to
consider alternatives. Over many years, he gathered
data, made calculations, and refined his theory until it
provided a more accurate explanation of the universe
than the geocentric model. His findings were published
in his book "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" (On
the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres).
Copernicus's theory faced strong opposition at the time, but it eventually became the
foundation for our modern understanding of the solar system.

CHARLES DARWIN

Personal Information

Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809, in

Shrewsbury, England. He was the fifth of six children in a
wealthy family. His father was a successful doctor, and his
mother was the daughter of a successful pottery
manufacturer.

Education

Darwin initially studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but he found the lectures dull
and surgery distressing, so he switched to studying divinity at Christ's College, Cambridge.
However, his passion was always natural history.

Theory

Darwin is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection. This theory proposes that
species evolve over generations through a process of natural selection, where traits that enhance
survival and reproduction become more common in successive generations.

Development of His Theory

The development of Darwin's theory was a long

process. His five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle,
during which he explored diverse geographical
locations and collected a variety of specimens,
played a crucial role. He observed significant
variation in species from different locations and
noted similarities between fossil species and
living species.

Back in England, Darwin spent years compiling his notes and considering various explanations
before he formulated his theory of natural selection. He was prompted to publish his ideas after
receiving a letter from Alfred Russel Wallace, who had independently conceived a similar
theory.

Darwin's theory was published in his book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859. It caused a great
deal of controversy at the time but is now widely accepted as the foundation of modern biology.

SIGMUND FREUD

Personal Information

Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia,

now part of the Czech Republic. He moved to Vienna, Austria,
with his family at a young age and spent most of his life there.

Education

Freud studied medicine at the University of Vienna, where he

developed an interest in neurology. He went on to specialize in
treating psychological disorders, which was an emerging field at
the time.
Theory

Freud is best known for developing the theory of

psychoanalysis. This theory suggests that people's
behaviors are driven by unconscious desires and
conflicts. He proposed that the human psyche is
composed of three parts: the id (primitive desires), the
ego (rational thought), and the superego (moral
conscience).

Freud also introduced the concept of defense

mechanisms, which are unconscious strategies the ego
uses to manage conflict between the id and the superego.

Development of His Theory

Freud developed his theories through his clinical practice. He used techniques like dream
analysis and free association (encouraging patients to say whatever comes to mind) to explore
the unconscious mind. His theories were also influenced by his self-analysis, including his
interpretation of his dreams.

While Freud's theories were revolutionary and have had a significant influence on psychology
and psychiatry, they have also been controversial and widely debated. Yet, Freud's work has
undeniably shaped our understanding of the human mind and behavior.