What are the specific characteristics of the theories about physics during ancient Greece that distinguish them from contemporary physics? By that, I mean what are the theories during that time characterized as by philosophers? One depends on the modern scientific method and is based on factual observation, the other is more or less purely speculative. This one is easy to observe or note, but are there other characteristics less obvious that differentiated them?
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Welcome to SE Philosophy! Thanks for your contribution. Please take a quick moment to take the tour or find help. You can perform searches here or seek additional clarification at the meta site. Don't forget, when someone has answered your question, you can click on the checkmark to reward the contributor. – J D Mar 15 '20 at 19:01
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They are not mathematical in nature in the same way they are after Galileo Galilei, the Greeks did not have the same philosophy of science we have, and they lacked our technology. Analytic geometry (mapping algebra to geometry) didn't even occur until Descartes. If you want to understand better, see Lloyd's Early Greek Science: Thales to Aristotle. – J D Mar 15 '20 at 19:05
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G.E.R. Lloyd also wrote a follow up volume: Early Greek Science: After Aristotle. – J D Mar 15 '20 at 19:07
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There are laws of motion expresssed mathematically in Aristotle's physics. – Mar 16 '20 at 22:42