Abstract: Eratosthenes (276 鈥� 194 BC) is the Hellenistic scientist known for calculating the earth鈥檚 circumference by using the shadow of a sundial. Today, he is commended for getting admirably close to the currently accepted value for the earth鈥檚 circumference. In this paper, I examine Eratosthenes鈥� experiment through the lens of integrated history and philosophy of science. By using a complementary scientific approach, I point out the conceptual difficulties involved in the instruments and measurements available to him at the time, and argue that his experiment did not warrant the degree of accuracy he is commended for. I suggest that Eratosthenes鈥� apparent accuracy should be interpreted not as a scientific feat, but as the lucky result of experimental error.
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Philosophers on Tour
January 07, 2019
For one of our grad students, the recent break wasn't all vacation. Grad student, Cem Erkli returned to his undergraduate univerisity, Bilkent in Ankara, Turkey, to present to the department of Philosophy.
Cem's talk鈥�鈥�鈥攅xamined Eratosthenes' calculation of the earth's circumference from the shadow on a sundial.
