Final answer:
When philosophy was considered superior to science, it had authority over questions about natural phenomena and ethics, including those concerning politics, the human condition, and the cosmos, with figures like Aristotle contributing to what would later become separate scientific disciplines.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Dr. Shoket, when philosophy used to be considered superior to science, it had authority over questions that today might be addressed by the natural sciences. This period, often referred to as the time of 'natural philosophy', encompasses a broad range of topics including questions about the natural world and the cosmos. Classic philosophical questions also extended to ethics, politics, and the human condition, topics that philosophy still primarily addresses today.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote extensively on topics such as physics, politics, and ethics, which were all considered parts of philosophy at the time. Moreover, the development of the scientific method itself owes much to the contributions of early philosophers who first crafted formal rules of deductive and inferential logic. Figures like Aristotle were crucial in establishing the foundational principles of what would later become separate scientific disciplines.
Philosophy once had authority over questions concerning natural phenomena before evolving into more specialized disciplines. The important philosophical questions included the understanding of politics, ethics, the best way to live, justice, and free will. Thus, the dominance of philosophy spanned over natural and moral inquiries before the advent of the specialized sciences and use of empirical evidence.