Authors from different periods in history represent nature and the physics world differently. Authors from Anglo- Saxons or the people, who inhabited Great Britain in the 5th century, represented the issue different from those in the middle or medieval ages (10th to 15th century) and also from those that came thereafter.
Anglo- Saxon author of Beowulf is believed to have written the piece sometime between 8th and 11th century. The Beowulf poet presents ancient Scandinavia with the heroic tale of Beowulf defeating a monster and later becoming King of Geats (Anon, Kirtlan 3). It shows nature as a fight between forces of good and evil as Beowulf has to fight evil twice- in the form of Grendel and then as a dragon. There was deep superstition and little understanding of science, nature and the physical world in comparison to the subsequent years when science continued to evolve.
Ptolemy (90-168 CE) was a great author of several scientific issues and he helped to elaborate on astronomy and geography. He was a leading figure in terms of nature studies in the Roman Empire and is famed for writing about the uniform circular planetary movements in orbits in Amalgest. His assertions formed the foundation for much of the astronomical studies that ensued from his time to the present day (Lindberg). Ptolemy’s authorship shows the great progress that has been made in the Middle Ages in matter about science although there still remained a gap in the relating Science to philosophy an issues that was to be resolved in the coming centuries.
One of the greatest authors of the 16th century was Aristotle. He authored The Physics in the 16th century. The publication means “lectures on nature” and it contradicts the modern definition of Physics which is deeply entrenched in sciences (Lindberg). Aristotle, although appreciative of physical sciences as they were sought to determine beings that arise on their own by writing The Physics. In other words, Aristotle considered Physics to equate to philosophy and it was a critical point because he helped subsequent scientists such as Galileo to question natural phenomena and seek comprehensive responses from science and philosophy.
References
Anonymous, Kirtlan, E. Beowulf. Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
Lindberg, David C. Science in the Middle Ages. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978. Print.
