Which “Old Web” or “Western” culture invented science? The Greeks? Babylonians? The
Chinese? The Europeans? (3-4 sentences) Worth 2 points
While arguments can be made for each of the cultures to have discovered science, the
Babylonians have one of the strongest arguments in their favor. Math is sometimes referred to
as the language of science and without it, science is not possible. Therefore, since the
Babylonians invented lots of numericals systems and methods, I believe it is them who sort of
established the beginning of science. It is these “Old Web” cultural developments that allowed
other cultures to make use of that math and really engage in scientific advancement.
Would you consider ethnobotany a science, why or why not? In what ways do you see
traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western science/medicine similar and different? (4-6
sentences) Worth 4 points
Science is a systematic study of a structure, relationship, or phenomena, so in this case, yes, I
do believe that ethnobotany is a science since the relationship between humans and plants are
being studied. Science is sort of a vague term in itself since you can really study anything, so
there is easily an argument for ethnobotany to be considered a science. I think that Indigenous
knowledge differs from Western science/medicine in the way of knowledge transfer. In more
indigenous cultures, knowledge is sort of passed down in a relatively unstructured way lacking
developed systems and instead relies on certain members of society/ celebrations.
Comparatively, knowledge of Western medicine and science is passed down very systematically
and organizationally through institutions, publishings, and formal settings.
