It is warmer if you sleep with goats than it is with sheep. Sheep are more nervous, whereas goat snuggle up close to people in the night. History of Animals – Aristotle
Month: June 2015
Philosophy pays
Thales of Miletus was often mocked for being poor. Some said that this proved his philosophy was useless. But while studying the stars one winter, Thales discovered that it would be particularly good weather that season for olives. He subsequently leased all the olive presses he could. Both in his home town of Miletus but… Continue reading Philosophy pays
Were Greeks always easy to sway?
It is surprising that this trick worked. Greeks have always been more intelligent than barbarians. And Athenias even more so, they are the smartest of all Greeks. Yet Pisistratus the tyrant, got his position back with a very simple trick: he found a pretty and quite tall girl from the peasants and dressed as if… Continue reading Were Greeks always easy to sway?
A dog, actually my best friend. For real!
Xenophanes often mocked Pythagoras for believing in the transmigration of souls. According to him, once Pythagoras heard a dog which was been beaten and shouted “Stop! Do not beat that dog! It is the soul of a dear friend of mine, I recognize the voice!”
Plagiarism detection tricks
Heraclides amazingly proposed (back then) that earth has a 24 hour cycle of revolution on its axis. However he wasn’t as perceptive in other matters: “Dionysios had written a tragedy which he called Parthenopaeus. As a practical joke, he put Sophocles as the author when it was written . When Heraclides quoted as if… Continue reading Plagiarism detection tricks
Semen tic differences
In Histories, Herodotus claims that Ethiopians (as he had also claimed about Indians elsewhere) produce black semen. Aristotle however criticizes this view: “…as if a person of black skin is black in every part. But the teeth of a black person are white.”
Make books, not war
When Athens was captured by barbarians, all the books were gathered from the city in one place so they could be burnt. But one of the barbarians changed the minds of his fellows by saying that it would be best if the Athenians read all day as they liked, so they didn’t fight. It… Continue reading Make books, not war