<span>the "father of science"; sought to determine the physical causes for natural events
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Thales of Miletus
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In the 16th century, most European countries were busy burning heretics to what they had decreed to be the true religion. There were two exceptions, Portugal and Spain, that were busy discovering new continents.
I doubt most countries had much time left to burn witches.
If the machine or person cannot do the job then they are replaced.
It was the united states air force :D