Final answer:
Scientific progress would have been limited if we still adhered to the belief in Earth, Air, Fire, and Water as the only elements. The development of modern chemistry and the periodic table, which underpin current technological and medical advancements, would not have occurred without moving beyond these ancient concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
If we still believed that the only elements were Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, scientific progress would have been severely limited. Studies like those conducted after Mendeleev's periodic table, which focused on understanding the properties and existence of elements, would not have occurred if we adhered to the philosophical view of elements. Aristotle's idea was influential, despite Democritus's atomic theory explaining the composition of matter more accurately. However, it was not until modern chemistry evolved that these theories were proven incorrect through empirical research.
The development of modern chemistry and the creation of the periodic table were pivotal in advancing our understanding of the elements. These advances led to a better comprehension of the behavior of matter and have underpinned the progress seen in technology and medicine. Had we remained with the mystical view of the four classical elements, the precise and practical understanding of matter necessary for technological advancements would not have been possible.
Furthermore, scientific inquiry would have remained focused on philosophical and mystical explanations rather than empirical evidence, which would have delayed or even prevented the discovery of nearly 70 natural elements by the late 19th century and subsequent fundamental connections discovered through the systematic study of these elements.