Final answer:
Option (C), Aristotle is credited with shifting to hypothesis formation and testing in methodological naturalism, contributing to the evolution of natural philosophy into specialized sciences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Greek philosopher credited with the shift to the formation and testing of hypotheses as part of methodological naturalism is Aristotle. Aristotle's work laid the foundation for the scientific methodology used in various fields such as physics, biology, and the natural sciences.
While the early Greek philosophers relied heavily on reason and logic rather than experiment and observation, Aristotle wrote extensively on a broad range of topics, contributing significantly to the evolution of natural philosophy into more specialized disciplines. His approach marked a deviation from previous philosophical traditions, emphasizing the importance of empirical evidence and systematic inquiry in understanding the natural world.