HISTORY OF SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Daniel Alves
HIST 497 - Special Topics in History
July, 2024
Introduction
Indeed study about history the development of science, its scope is very broad and
also very long. Ideally history is a track record of all the series of events that have occurred,
which serves to reveal everything according to the facts that exist without the slightest
distortion, but in reality sometimes history only reveals a piece or not the whole of the series
of events and cannot be completely separated from the influence of certain socio-political
conditions. Moreover, the history referred to in this discussion is the history or periodization
of the development of science which is an important factor in human life. For this reason,
there needs to be a serious effort in revealing existing historical facts.
In the conception of religion, science was born since the creation of the first man,
Adam,1 and then developed into a science or knowledge. In essence, science was born
because of the desire to know in humans. This desire to know arises because of the demands
and needs in life that continue to grow.
Theoretically, the development of science always refers to Greek civilization. This is
supported by several factors, including Greek mythology, Greek literature, and the influence
of science at that time that had reached the Ancient East. The development of science in each
period is due to the human mindset that has changed from myths to become more rational.2
Humans become more proactive and creative in making nature an object of research and
study. Therefore, in this short paper, the author will explain the history of the development of
science according to the author's abilities, of course the author believes this is far from
perfection.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
Discussion
Among historians there are many diverse opinions in defining the term history, but
the author can conclude that in essence history is a continuity or series of events / events
between the past, present and future. This can be seen from a chronological and geographical
perspective, which can be seen by the period of time in which history occurred. In each
period of history the development of science has certain characteristics or characteristics. But
in the division of periodization of the development of science there are differences in various
existing literature.
Therefore, to understand the history of the development of science easily, here has
been done elaboration and classification or division in outline. The following is a brief
description of each period or history of the development of science from time to time. If
knowledge was born since the first human being was created, then its development dates
back to ancient times. Broadly speaking, Amsal Bakhtiar divides the periodization of the
history of the development of science into four periods: in the ancient Greek era, in the
Islamic era, in the renaissance and modern era, and in contemporary times.3
Meanwhile, George J. Mouly divides the development of science into three (3)
stages, namely animism, empirical science and theoretical science. George J. Mouly in his
book Jujun S Suriasumantri, (1985: 87) explains that the beginning of science can be traced
to the beginning of man. There is no doubt that early humans have discovered some
empirical relationships that allow them to understand the state of affairs the world. The
earliest efforts in the scientific field recorded in the pages of history were carried out by the
Egyptians where the flooding of the Nile River occurred every year which contributed to the
development of the almanac system, geometry and surveying activities.4
George J. Mouly explains that in the animist stage, humans explain the symptoms
they encounter in life as the actions of gods, ghosts and various spirits. It was at this stage
that the mythocentric mindset still strongly colored the thinking of the Greeks before turning
into logocentric. For example, earthquakes at that time were not considered ordinary natural
phenomena, but the Earth God was shaking his head. However, when philosophy was
introduced, these natural phenomena were no longer considered as divine activities, but
natural activities that occur in quality.5
From this, it is known that the human thinking process requires them to find a method
of learning from experience and raises the desire to organize things empirically, and can be
measured. In history, the Greeks were the first to be recognized by the world as pioneers of
the formation of science because they had succeeded in compiling it systematically. The
implication of this is that humans will try to formulate all things including the origin of
myths because they realize that this can be explained by its origin and actual conditions. So
that something unclear that is only in the form of knowing or knowledge can be proven and
can be accounted for at that time. This was the beginning of the victory of science over
myths, and traditional beliefs that prevailed in society.6
While the development of the history of science according to proverbs bakhtiar which
is divided into four periods is explained as follows:
Ancient Greek Period
Ancient Greece is a historical place where a A nation has a civilization. Therefore, ancient
Greece is synonymous with philosophy, which is the mother of science. In fact, philosophy
in a simple sense had developed long before the classical Greek philosophers pursued and
developed it. Philosophy in their hands became something very valuable for the development
of science in later generations. It is like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose
influence is felt until now. According to Bertrand Russel, among all history, nothing is so
astonishing or so difficult to explain than the sudden birth of civilization in Greece. Indeed,
many elements of civilization had existed for thousands of years in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
But certain elements were incomplete until the Greeks perfected them.7
Along with the development of time, philosophy was used as a foundation for
thinking by the Greeks to explore science, so that it developed in subsequent generations. It
was like the opening of the doors of various disciplines whose influence is felt until now.
Therefore, the period of development of Greek philosophy is an entry point to enter a new
civilization of mankind.8 This era lasted from the 6th century BC to around the 6th century
AD. This era uses an inquiring attitude (an attitude that likes to investigate something
critically), and does not accept experiences based on a receptive attitude. So that in this era
philosophy grew fertile. Greece reached its peak or golden age.9
During this period many prominent scientists emerged. Among them were:
Thales (624-545 BC).
Approximately six hundred years before Prophet Isa (Jesus) Thales was born, the first of the
Miletus tridente, who kicked off the mythological way of thinking of Greek society in
explaining everything. As a merchant-philosopher, Thales was very fond of doing rihlah. He
even traveled to Egypt. Thales was the first philosopher before the time of Socrates.
According to him, the main substance that is the basis of all matter is water. In his time, he
became a philosopher who questioned the basic content of nature.10
Pythagoras (580 BC-500 BC)
Pythagoras born at Samos (region of Ioni), but then in Kroton (Southern Italy). He was a
Greek mathematician and philosopher best known through his theorems. Known as the
Father of Numbers, one of Phytagoras' most famous legacies is the Pythagorean theorem,
which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the
squares of its legs (sides). Although the facts in this theorem were widely known before the
birth of Pythagoras, the theorem is credited to Pythagoras because he was the first to prove
this observation mathematically. In addition, Pythagoras managed to create an educational
institution called the Pythagorean Society.
The first milestone in the development of science in the history of human civilization. The
development of this science was motivated by a change in paradigm and mindset that
developed at that time. Previously the Greeks were still shrouded by a mythocentric mindset,
but in the 6th century BC in Greece a philosophy known as the greek miracle was born. With
this paradigm, science developed very rapidly because it answered the problems around it
with ratios and left belief in irrational mythology or superstition. See: Surajiyo, Philosophy
of Science and its Development in Indonesia: An Introduction (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2007),
82-83. He contributed to the theory of number, the formation of objects, and discovered the
relationship between pitch and string length.11
Socrates (469 BC-399 BC)
Socrates was born in Athens, and was a first generation of the three great Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was the one who taught Plato, and Plato
in turn taught Aristotle. Socrates' most important contribution to Western thought was his
method of inquiry, known as the elenchos method, which was widely applied to examine key
moral concepts. Because of this, Socrates is known as the father and source of ethics or
moral philosophy, and also philosophy in general.12 The period after Socrates is called the
golden age of Greek science, because in this era the scientific studies that emerged were a
combination of natural philosophy and philosophy of man. The most prominent figure was
Plato (429-347 BC), who was also a student of Socrates.13
Plato (427 BC-347 BC)
He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
His most famous work is the Republic (Politeia) in which he outlines his views on the ideal
state. In addition, he also wrote on the Laws and many dialogues in which Socrates was the
main participant. Plato's most important contribution is of course his knowledge of ideas.
This mortal world is nothing but a reflection or shadow of the ideal world. In the ideal world
everything is perfect. Plato, who lived in the early 4th century BCE, was one of the earliest
philosophers whose writings still grace academia today. His work Timaeus was a very
influential work in an earlier age; in this work he outlined A cosmogony that includes the
theory of music in terms of balance and the theories of physics and physiology accepted at
the time.14
Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He
made contributions in the fields of Metaphysics, Physics, Ethics, Politics, Medicine, and
Natural Sciences. In the field of natural science, he was the first to systematically collect and
classify biological species. Meanwhile, in the field of politics, Aristotle believed that the
ideal form of politics was a combination of democracy and monarchy. Of his contributions,
the most important are the problems of logic and theology (metaphysics). Aristotle's logic is
a system of deductive reasoning, which even today is still considered the basis of any study
of formal logic. However, in his scientific research he also recognized the importance of
observation, experimentation and inductive thinking. The logic used to explain how to draw
conclusions put forward by Aristotle is based on the order of thought. The golden age of the
Greeks occurred during the time of Aristotle (384-322 BC). He managed to find solutions to
the big problems of philosophy which he united in one system: logic, mathematics, physics,
and metaphysics. Aristotle's logic is based on language analysis called syllogism.15
In addition to the names above, there are still philosophers such as Anaximander (610
BC-546 BC) with his philosophical dictum that the first beginning cannot be determined
(Apeiron), because it does not have the properties of substances that exist today. Anaximenes
who lived in the 6th century BC, still in the same generation as Anaximander, argued that the
first substance to exist was air. He thought that everything in the universe was permeated
with air. Demokreitos (460-370 BC), He developed the theory of the atom as the basis of
matter, so he is known as the "Father of the First Atom". Empedocles (484-424 BC) was a
Greek philosopher who argued that matter consists of four basic elements that he called
roots, namely water, earth, air, and fire. In addition, he added one more element which he
called love (philia). He did this to explain the attachment of one element to another.
Empedocles is also known for laying the foundations of the physical and biological sciences
in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. And also Archimedes, (around 287-212 BC) he was a Greek
mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and engineer. Archimedes is considered
one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, this is based on his findings in the form of the
mathematical principle of the lever, the pulley system (which he demonstrated by pulling a
ship alone), and the penak thread, which is the design of a planetarium model that can show
the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and possible constellations in the sky. From his
experimental works, he was later dubbed the Father of Experimental Science.16
Before the Islamic period, some call it the middle period. This era is still related to
the previous era. Because the beginning of this era in the 6th century AD to around the 14th
century AD. This era is called the Dark Ages. This era is characterized by the appearance of
theologians in the field of science. So that the scientists who existed in this era were almost
all theologians. Likewise, the scientific activities they carry out must be based on or support
religion. Or in other words, scientific activity is closely related to religious activity. In this
era philosophy is often known as Anchilla Theologiae (Servers of Religion). In addition,
what characterizes this period is the use of Aristotle's works and the Bible as a guide.17
Islamic period.
It is indisputable that Islam is The teachings are very loving towards science, this has been
seen from the message contained in the Qur'an which was revealed for the first time to the
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, namely the letter al-'Alaq with the beginning of the command
word iqra which means (read). This intellectual passion in the Islamic world developed at a
time when Europe and the West experienced a dark point, as said by Josep Schumpeter in his
magnum opus book which states a great gap in the history of economic thought for 500
years, namely the period known as the dark ages. The dark ages of the West was actually a
period of glory for Muslims, something that the West tried to hide because the thoughts of
Muslim economists at this time were then stolen by Western economists.
It was at this time that in the East, especially in the territory of Islamic rule, there was
a rapid development of science. When Europe in the Middle Ages was more concerned with
religious issues, the civilization of the Islamic world carried out massive translations of the
works of Greek philosophers, and various findings in other scientific fields.19
According to Harun Nasution, science develops on movement of science. This can be seen
from the motto that applies to science at that time is ancillla theologia or servant of religion.
Or in other words, scientific activity is directed to support religious truth. Christianity
became a philosophical problem because it taught that God's revelation was the true truth.
This is considered one of the reasons why this period is called the dark age. Attempts to
revive science were only occasionally made by great kings such as Alfred and Charlemagne
classical Islamic times (650-1250 AD). This scholarship was influenced by the perception of
how high the position of reason is as found in the Qur'an and hadith. This perception met
with the same perception from Greece through Greek philosophy and science in the central
cities of Greek civilization in the Classical Islamic World, such as Alexandria (Egypt),
Jundisyapur (Iraq), Antakia (Syria), and Bactra (Persia).20 While W. Montgomery Watt
added more details that when Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were occupied by Arabs in the seventh
century, Greek science and philosophy were developed in various learning centers. There
was a famous school in Alexandria, Egypt, but it was moved first to Syria, and then around
900 AD to Baghdad.21
Around the sixth and seventh centuries AD, the torch of scientific progress was in the
lap of Islamic civilization. In the field of medicine, famous names emerged such as: Al-
H}āwī by al-Rāzī (850-923) is an encyclopaedia of all the developments in medical science
up to his time.22 Rhazas composed an Encyclopedia of medical science entitled Continens,
Ibn Sina (980-1037) wrote medical books (al-Qonun) which became the standard in medical
science in Europe. Al-Khwarizmi (Algorismus or Alghoarismus) compiled a book of
Algebra in 825 AD, which became a standard book for several centuries in Europe. He also
wrote Arithmetics, which paved the way for the use of decimals in Europe to replace Roman
writing. Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) was a philosopher who translated and commented on the
works of Aristotle. Al Idris (1100-1166) created 70 maps of the known regions of the time to
present to King Boger II of the kingdom of Sicily.23 In the field of chemistry there were Jābir
ibn H}ayyān (Geber) and al-Bīrūnī (362-442 AH/973-1050 CE). Some of Jābir ibn Hayyān's
works describe methods of processing various chemical substances as well as methods of
purification. Most of the words for chemical substances and vessels that later became the
language of Europeans came from his works. Meanwhile, al-Bīrūnī measured the specific
gravity of some substances with great precision.24
In addition to the above disciplines, some Muslims also pursue logic and philosophy.
Take al-Kindī, al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD), Ibn Sīnā or Avicenna (d. 1037 AD), al-Ghazālī (d.
1111 AD), Ibn Bājah or Avempace (d. 1138 AD), Ibn Tufayl or Abubacer (d. 1185 AD), and
Ibn Rushd or Averroes (d. 1198 AD). According to Felix Klein-Franke, al-Kindī is credited
with making Greek philosophy and science accessible and building the foundations of
philosophy in Islam from rare and difficult sources, some of which were later continued and
developed by al-Fārābī. Al-Kindī was eager to introduce Greek philosophy and science to
his fellow Arabic speakers, as he often pointed out, and opposed orthodox theologians who
rejected foreign knowledge.
According to Betrand Russell, Ibn Rushd is more famous in Christian philosophy
than in Islamic philosophy. His influence in Europe was enormous, not only on the
scholastics, but also on most of the non-professional freethinkers, who opposed immortality
and were called Averroists. Among professional philosophers, his admirers were first among
the Franciscans and at the University of Paris. It was Ibn Rushd's rationalism that inspired
the medieval West and began to rebuild their civilization that had been in decline for
centuries which manifested with the birth of the age of enlightenment or renaissance.26
The renaissance and modern period
Michelet, the famous historian, was the first to which uses the term renaissance. Historians
usually use this term to designate various periods of intellectual awakening, particularly in
Europe, and more specifically in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is difficult to
draw a clear line between medieval times, the renaissance and modern times. Some people
think that the modern age is just an extension of the renaissance.27
The Renaissance is a period of civilization development that lies at the end or after
the Dark Ages until the modern age emerges. The Renaissance is a historical era full of
progress and changes that have meaning for the development of science. The main
characteristics of the renaissance are humanism, individualism, secularism, empiricism, and
rationalism. Science developed because of the spirit and results of empiricism, while
Christianity was increasingly abandoned because of the spirit of humanism.
The influence of Islamic science on Europe, which had been going on since the 12th
century AD, led to a revival movement (renaissance) of Greek heritage in Europe in the 14th
century AD. The development of Greek thought in Europe this time was through Arabic
translations that were studied and then translated back into Latin. Although Islam was
eventually expelled from Spain in a very cruel way, it has nevertheless fostered important
movements in Europe. These movements were the renaissance of classical Greek culture in
the 14th century, rationalism in the 17th century, and enlightenment (aufklarung) in the 18th
century.28
Contemporary Period
This era began in the 20th century AD and is still ongoing
to the present day. This era is characterized by the existence of advanced technologies, and
the specialization of sciences that are increasingly sharp and deep. In this era, the field of
physics occupies the highest position and is widely discussed by philosophers. Most of the
applications of science and technology in the 21st century are the result of cutting-edge
discoveries in the 20th century. In this era, the most prominent and talked-about scientists are
physicists. The field of physics became the center point of scientific development at this
time. The most famous physicist of the 20th century was Albert Einstein. He was born on
March 14, 1879 and died on April 18, 1955 (age 76). Albert Einstein was a physical scientist.
He proposed the theory of relativity and also contributed much to the development of
quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.29
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the
photoelectric effect and his "devotion to Theoretical Physics". His other works include
Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect, and Einstein's most recognized formula E=mc².
His first article in 1905, "On the Motion-Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat-
of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid", included research on Brownian
motion. Using the then-controversial kinetic theory of liquids, he established that the
phenomenon, which still lacked a satisfactory explanation decades after it was first observed,
provided empirical evidence (on the basis of observation and experiment) of the reality of
atoms. It also lent credence to statistical mechanics, which was also controversial at the
time.30
This era also saw the integration of physics and chemistry, and was called the "Big
Science". Linus Pauling (1953) authored a book entitled The Nature of Chemical Bond using
the principles of quantum mechanics. Later, Pauling's work culminated in the physical
modeling of DNA, "the secret of life". It was also in this year that James D. Watson, Francis
Crick and Rosalind Franklin explained the structure of DNA. The basis of DNA, the genetic
material for revealing life in all its forms. This triggered genetic engineering that began in
1990 to map the entire human genome (in the Human Genome Project) and has been touted
as potentially having great medical benefits.31
In addition to chemistry and physics, communication and information technology
developed rapidly in this era. Just mention some of the inventions reported by
nusantaranews.wordpress.com as inventions that changed the color of the world, namely:
Electricity, Electronics (transistors and ICs), Robotics (production machinery and
agricultural machinery), TV and Radio, Nuclear Technology, Transportation Machinery,
Computers, Internet, Airplanes, Telephone and Cellular, Agricultural Engineering and DNA,
Petroleum, Space Technology, Air Conditioners and Refrigerators, Material Engineering,
Health Technology (laser, IR, ultrasound), Fiber Optic, and Photography (camera, video).
Now, the latest invention in the field of Technology has resurfaced. other sources have
reported the invention of the "Memristor". This is the invention of Leon Chua, professor of
electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California Berkeley. The
success revived the dream of being able to develop electronic systems with much higher
energy efficiency than today. The trick is memory that can retain information even when the
power is off, so there is no time lag for the computer to boot up, for example, when it is
restarted from a dead state. This is described as like turning on and off an electric light, in the
future computers will be like that too (they can be turned on and off very easily and quickly).
Conclusion
The development of science is actually inseparable from a sense of great curiosity
accompanied by earnest efforts through reasoning, experimentation, refinement, and daring
to take high risks so as to produce a high quality science discoveries that are beneficial to a
generation and become a reference for consideration for the next generation to correct,
refine, develop, and find the next discovery. These factors then become the spirit and
motivation for the rapid development of science and technology.
The important thing to note in this regard is that the rapid development of science
must be balanced with the development of spiritual morality, because as we know that
science is essentially value-free, depending on how humans use it. Science can have a
positive impact, but it can also have a negative impact on human life. The positive impact is
that it can simplify and provide comfort in human life, while the negative impact is that it
can destroy the order of human life itself.
