Ibn Al-Haytham
Question 1
From the three sources assigned, write down vital important things you learned about Ibn Al-Haytham
Ibn Al-Haytham is a prominent Muslim scholar born who made remarkable contributions in several branches of science such as optics, meteorology astronomy, and mathematics. Ibn Al-Haytham was born in 965 in the port city of Basra (Macaw Books, 2018). He showed a high level of unique intelligence right from childhood, which made him receive the best education available at Abbasid Caliphate. He began his career by being appointed Basra governor, a position he declined, citing alienation from bureaucracy and dissatisfaction from the absence of a search for religious truth (Macaw Books, 2018, 7). He then devoted himself to the study of science.
Ibn Al-Haytham’s influence made him be considered to solve the Cairo flooding problem. While in Cairo, be proposed the Caliph, a hydraulic project – an early version of the Aswan dam; however, the president refused (sssn2). Devoted to science, he is known to be the first individual who discovered that light travel in a straight line using ancient Indian scholar Varahamihira ideas (Macaw Books, 2018). He is known for introducing experimental science to verify theories refuting the Greek view of science as a philosophy (Macaw Books, 2018, 13). He is known as the father of optics having written a seven-volume treatise on optics, a huge leap in theoretical physics. He is prominent for having built the first camera in history – the pinhole camera, also called camera obscura (Macaw Books, 2018, 13). He also wrote several laws on atmospheric refraction, where he determined the depth of the earth. He further opposed the Ptolemaic concept that the earth is the center of the universe. Ibn Al-Haytham is cited in more than 96 scientific works, 50% of them in mathematics and 14 in optics (Rashed, 2002,773). He also wrote about philosophy of mathematics, statics, hydrostatics, grappling with all mathematical sciences of his time except algebra (Rashed, 2002,773). He is famous for calculating the volume of solids, such as the paraboloid and the sphere. Ibn Al-Haytham developed the first concept of geometry based on space (Rashed, 2002,773). Ibn Al-Haytham is therefore known for his great contributions to science.
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Question 2
Compare and contrast the three sources (write similarities and differences).
Similarities
The three scholars agree on a lot of things about Ibn Al-Haytham. Firstly the sources agree on the period of his birth. The source agrees he was born in the 10th Century during a period when the Muslim country was undergoing great civilization in terms of art, science, and culture(Macaw Books, 2018, 5; Rashed, 2002, 773: Romero, n.d, 6). Secondly, there is agreement on the notion that Ibn Al-Haytham was the father of camera obscura (Macaw Books, 2018, 21, 2 pg 773, Romero, n.d, 24). The sources agree that Ibn Al-Haytham contributed much in the optics, especially to the concept that light travels in a straight line and authored a book on optics (Macaw Books, 2018,19; Rashed, 2002, 773; Romero, n.d, 9). In general, the sources show great consensus on the contributions of Ibn Al-Haytham to science and especially optics.
Differences
The sources differ on whether Ibn Al-Haytham was able to solve the Egyptian problems. According to Libby Romero, Ibn Al-Haytham could Not solve the flooding issue of R.Nile. “If any man could do that, he though the master builders of ancient Egypt would have built one long ago” (Romero, n.d, 15). According to Macaw Books, when he visited Egypt to plan the blueprint, “he realized the infeasibility of the idea” (Macaw Books, 2018, 9). However, A polymath in the 10th Century suggests that Ibn Al-Haytham came up with a blueprint,” Caliph hydraulic project which is an early version of Aswan Dam which he the King refuted” (Rashed, 2002, 773). The three sources disagree on Ibn Al-Haytham’s capacity to solve Egypt flood problem.
Secondly, its only the Macaw book that gives information on Ibn Al-Haytham as a governor of Basra. “Ibn Al-Haytham was appointed the governor of Basra” ( Macaw Books, 2018, 7). Its still Macaw’s book that gives information on Ibn Al-Haytham’s fakeness of madness. “Ibn Al-Haytham was caught in a dilemma and decided to fake madnesske in front of the emperor” ( Macaw Books, 2018, 11).
The sources disagree on the Ibn Al-Haytham fate. Macaw books record that Ibn Al-Haytham went to Syria, or Baghdad, wherein he was involved with the University of al-Azhar, or put to house arrest till his death after his daring act (Macaw Books, 2018, 11). According to “polymath in the 10th century,”, Ibn Al-Haytham stayed in Egypt till his death after 1040 (Rashed, 2002, 773). Finally, unlike the other sources, polymath in the 10th century” gives a detailed view of the Ibn Al-Haytham contribution to science and mathematics without adopting a theoretical explanation of his life.
Question 3
What are some benefits of learning from multiple sources on the same topic?
Different sources offer different information concerning the topic. Using many sources gives you diversified information on the topic, which makes you more informed. Secondly, learning from multiple sources helps you differentiate facts from rumors. An idea said by many scholars is likely to be true compared to data presented by a single author. Finally, each source employs different writing styles, and some sources are more detailed than others. Learning from different sources presents an opportunity to grasp ideas from various authors and approach the topic from a more informed and knowledgeable point.
References
Macaw Books. (2018). Ibn Al-Haytham. Beruit Lebanon ISBN:798-1-60346-639-4
Rashed., R. (2002). A polymath in the 10th Century. Science Compass. Vol. 297
Romero., R. (n.d). Ibn Al-Haytham: The Man Who Discovered How We See. National Geography. Washington, D.C