Workshop Definitions and Targets
- Mike Edmunds (from discussion with Tracey Rihll and Rien van de Weijgaert)
MEANT TO STIMULATE DEBATE, NOT SUPPRESS OTHER ISSUES!
Definitions
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For the purposes of this meeting only!
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A “mechanism” is something inorganic that has moving parts
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A “mechanical philosophy” asserts that all natural phenomena can be explained by
physical causes, and seeks to investigate those causes
FOUR “classes” of question:
1. Good chance of answering during workshop
2. The workshop suggests how the question might be answered in the immediate future
3. Questions requiring long research programmes – workshop might prioritise
4. Questions which can probably never be answered (except with serendipitous discovery)
Questions (no “class” rating yet!):
Q1) What was the lineage of technology (before and after 100 BC) for sphairai/sphaerae?
Spherae:
(i)
A description of the heavens c.f. Aratus Phaenomena
(ii)
A globe/armillary sphere
(iii)
A mechanical “display” of the heavens or heavenly information
Q1a) How did the lineage of sphaerae relate to other technology lineages?
Q1b) What really happened to the technology (..ies) after the classical era? Includes
literature sources, technical skills, artefacts….
Q1c) What happened (and why) in the sudden revival and rapid development of
“geared” technology (1200?) 1250-1350? (escapement circa 1280)
Q2) How important was the existence of sphaerae (and other mechanisms) to the
development of philosophy?
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Note “philosophy” rather than “science” – although that’s a question (2a) too!
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The Antikythera Mechanism is rational, causal, shows regular and “regular irregular”
movement and has a single prime mover.
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Sphaerae were known about 200BC (earlier?) – 500AD . Supplementary (2b): Is
“Archimedes” a tag like “Hoover” for vacuum cleaners?
Q3) Is it more important to look for function and application of a technology, rather than
its innovation or invention?
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- e.g. Q3a) for the Antikythera Mechanism, can we make a reasonable guess at its
primary function? What was it for?
Q4) What would have been the social/economic unit of production for mechanisms?
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Q4a) What were the real social attitudes to technology among different social strata
in the Greek and Roman eras? – How wrong was Plutarch? “[Archimedes]
repudiating as sordid and ignoble the whole trade of engineering, and every sort of
art that lends itself to mere use and profit…..”
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Q4b) What was the influence of slavery and the slave-master relationship on the
development of technology? Or any other skilled worker/”intellectual” interaction?
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Q4c) What does the complexity and astronomical/mathematical content of the
Antikythera Mechanism imply about Q4b?
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Q4d) What skills did they have/were needed? E.g. did they have lenses? The myopia
debate
Q5) Do we underestimate the importance of entertainment in discussing the development
and social/economic impact of ancient technology?
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Q5a) What were the markets for technological products?
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Q5b) Who would buy an Antikythera Mechanism?
Q6) What was the relation between “industrial” (e.g.mills), “military” (e.g. catapults) and
“scientific” (e.g. sphaerae, clepsydra..) technologies?
Q7) What were the routes and drivers (e.g. conquests, slave movements…..) on the
dispersion and application of technologies?
Q8) How important and rational was weather lore in an agricultural and seafaring society?
Q9) How do we balance a literary-driven interpretation of the history of technology with
an artefact-driven approach?
Q10) Is there a “design tradition” of imagery within the Antikythera Mechanism and other
technology?
- imagery is not necessarily “ritual”
Q10a) Is there any “decoration” on the Antikythera Mechanism?
Strategies for Future Investigation
S1) How can we find out/recognise what remnants of mechanism are in museums, private
collections or archaeological sites?
S1a) What can we reasonably expect to find in museum drawers?
S1b) What should we look for at classical industrial sites?
S2) What can we reasonably expect to find in reinterpretation of literary texts?
S2a) How much is re-interpretation a function of contemporary views? Experience of
public amazement at the Antikythera Mechanism – why such amazement? The
“forgotten” classical world. BUT we should encourage the interest – science & history in
action…….
S3) What was the true extent of industrial activity in classical times?
- Use e.g. of polar ice cores?
S4) What other analysis of the Antikythera Mechanism would be appropriate?
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Need data archive of current data
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Further metallurgic analysis?
S5) What are the advantages (and disadvantages) of forming teams of complimentary
experts?